The 5 Best At-Home Herpes Tests in 2023

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Best budget option:myLAB Box | Skip to review
Best for fast results:STD Check | Skip to review
Best in-person testing option:Priority STD | Skip to review
Best report:Everlywell | Skip to review
Best herpes test subscription:LetsGetChecked | Skip to review

Genital herpes is caused by two viruses called herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2).

In the United States, 11.9% of people 14 to 49 have HSV-2. However, the number of people with genital herpes is likely higher since genital herpes can be caused by either HSV-1 or HSV-2.

For both workers and companies, employer-sponsored health insurance is costly. For 2018, employers paid an average of $10,000 per employee to cover 70% of the cost of health insurance, leaving workers with a price tag of about $4,200 for the remaining 30% of the expense, CNBC

If you haven’t experienced an initial outbreak, the best time to get tested for herpes is 12 days after exposure since the incubation period is 2 to 12 days.

This means herpes may not be detectable for up to 12 days after you’re exposed to it.

You can schedule an in-person appointment with a doctor, who can use a few different tests to determine your diagnosis. These tests may include:

viral culture test
virus antigen detection test
antibody test
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test

An at-home test, on the other hand, can be done by yourself in private.

You can order a herpes test kit online — which may include a swab test or finger prick blood test — and send the sample back in the mail. Most companies will send your results within 5 days.

Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). You can contract it by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the STI.

HSV-1 can also cause oral herpes, which may lead to sores or blisters around the mouth. You can contract oral herpes by kissing or engaging in oral sex with someone who already has it.

Some cases of oral herpes (HSV-1) can lead to genital herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2) since the virus can spread from the saliva of someone with the infection into your body through oral sex.

It generally takes anywhere from 4 to 7 days for herpes symptoms to appear. In addition to sores or blisters — which are called herpes lesions — around your mouth or genitals, other possible symptoms may include:

pain during urination
itching
fever
swollen lymph nodes

Some people don’t experience any symptoms at all, but they can still transmit the infection to others.

When researching at-home herpes tests, we looked for options with fast and accurate results and excellent customer feedback to compile our list of best buys.

Here are the criteria we considered:

Popularity: We included tests purchased by hundreds, if not thousands, of customers.
Reviews: All products have an excellent average customer rating from people who are happy with their experience.
Privacy protocols: Medical information must be private and compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) , so all the companies we considered have strict policies in place.
Results: We included services that offer fast, digital results within 5 days or less that people can access easily through a digital platform.
Accuracy: We only considered products with a high accuracy rate.
Value: We looked for services that provide the best bang for your buck.
Company reputation and transparency: We only included products from trusted brands that our team has vetted. This means there’s been no recent recalls or lawsuits, and the products meet our business standards and align with our approach to well-being.

FYI: We did include a couple of options that may call for you to leave home to pick up your test kit, so they may not fall 100% into the at-home category. But they are solid options, nonetheless.

Best budget option

myLAB Box At-Home Herpes Test

Price: $89
Results time: online results in 2 to 5 days
Collection method: finger prick
Follow-up care: physician consultation for positive results

With a finger prick, myLAB Box‘s at-home genital herpes test is pretty straightforward. Online lab results are provided within 2 to 5 days.

When you order a kit, you’ll receive materials to take your finger prick sample in discreet packaging. It also comes with simple instructions and a prepaid envelope to send the sample off for testing.

If your results are positive, you can schedule a free consultation with one of myLAB Box’s physicians. The company works with labs that are certified by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments Act of 1988 (CLIA) and College of American Pathologists (CAP). Plus, the website itself is HIPAA compliant.

Testing is not yet available in New York. The company is waiting for its state application to be approved.

Pros

easy collection
discreet
no need to leave home

Cons

not available in New York
results may take up to 5 days

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Best for fast results

STD Check

Price: $45 (or $90 for HSV-1 and HSV-2)
Results time: online results in 1 to 2 days
Collection method: blood draw
Follow-up care: phone consultation with a doctor for positive results

STD Check has more than 4,500 testing sites nationwide. You can choose an individual test like HSV-1 or HSV-2 for $45 each. You can also order a 10-test panel, which includes the most common STIs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea.

The company is known for fast test results, which are sent to your online account in 1 to 2 days.

Once you complete your order online, you can select a local testing center based on your ZIP code. According to the company, in-person tests only take 5 minutes.

Your test and results will be completely confidential. If your test results are positive, a physician can answer questions about your diagnosis.

Pros

accessible price point
physician to answer questions
fast results

Cons

must visit clinic
labs not available in all locations
doesn’t accept insurance

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Best in-person testing option

Priority STD

Price: $99
Results time: online results in 24 to 72 hours
Collection method: urine and blood sample
Follow-up care: physician consultation and treatment available for positive results

Priority STD has a 4.9 rating on Trustpilot with more than 2,300 reviews.

You can order the Priority STD individual herpes test online or by phone, which normally requires a waiting period of at least 12 days after exposure.

After scheduling an order, you’ll be directed to find a lab near you. There are more than 4,000 labs to choose from, and you can use the site’s online scheduling system to make an appointment.

STI test results are processed online through a secure patient login, typically within 1 to 3 days after collection.

Pros

excellent reviews
fast results
no need to take your own samples

Cons

must visit clinic in person

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Best report

Everlywell STD Test

Price: $169
Results time: online results in 2 to 5 days
Collection method: finger prick and vaginal swab or urine sample
Follow-up care: physician consultation for positive results

For $169, people with a vagina can test for six common STIs at once, including HSV-2. Tests require both a finger prick and a vaginal swab.

For the same price, people with a penis can also test for herpes by purchasing the company’s STD Test for Men. It looks for the same six STIs as the other test, but sample types include a finger prick and a urine sample instead of a vaginal swab.

The kit includes prepaid shipping both ways, digital results, and detailed instructions. Once your kit arrives, you’ll need to register it on Everlywell’s website using the unique ID number included in your box.

In your kit, you’ll receive all you need to collect a finger prick sample and either a vaginal swab packet or a urine cup and urine sample tube.

After shipping your sample, you’ll receive digital results on your account within a few days. If your results are positive, a board certified physician in your state will contact you at no additional cost to discuss your case and prescribe medication if necessary. Everlywell will also send you a personalized report detailing what STI you might have.

Pros

tests for a range of STIs
simple, at-home testing
free physician follow-up if positive

Cons

high price point
must take own samples

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Best herpes test subscription

LetsGetChecked Herpes Test

Price: $119 (or $83 monthly with subscription)
Results time: online results in 2 to 5 days
Collection method: finger prick
Follow-up care: phone consultation with clinical team

When you join the LetsGetChecked subscription service, testing is easy and convenient as you receive everything you need to take your sample in a discrete kit through the mail. Plus, you’ll save 30% on the full price of the kits.

There are also helpful videos on the website that explain the instructions in clear, straightforward language so you can be confident you’re taking your sample correctly.

We tried the LetsGetChecked Herpes Test

Lois Zoppi, a market editor at our sister site Medical News Today, tried the LetsGetChecked Herpes Test. She found the process to be relatively easy, noting that ordering and testing was pretty pain-free and results arrived quickly.

“The instructions were very easy to follow. The leaflet inside the kit shows you step-by-step the process of collecting your sample, with illustrations to guide you alongside written instructions,” she says. “You need to return the sample on the same day. I dropped my test in a mail box (free shipping was already provided) in another discreet shipping bag.”

She said that her results came in just one day, despite LetsGetChecked saying it can take two to five days.

“To access my results, I simply had to click on a link in the email and log in to my account. I could download a PDF of my results, too, which makes it easy to share with doctors.”

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As with all other testing services on our list, LetsGetChecked is privacy and HIPAA compliant. Your results will be available online in 2 to 5 days. Should your results be positive, you can contact one of the nursing team who can help you determine a treatment plan.

Pros

convenient
fast results
substantial savings with subscription

The 5 Best At-Home Herpes Tests in 2023