Herpes I/II IgG (HSV)

Herpes blood tests are done to find the herpes simplex virus (HSV).  There are two different types of the herpes virus, Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV1) which typically causes cold sores, and Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV2), which causes genital sores.

An HSV infection can cause small, painful sores that look like blisters on the skin or the tissue lining (mucous membranes) of the throat, nose, mouth, urethra, rectum, or vagina.  A herpes infection may cause only a single outbreak of sores, but in many cases the person will have more outbreaks.

Almost half of adults in the United States have herpes. This is the critical reason to get tested. Everyone wants to think it won’t happen to him or her, but herpes is beginning to be a more and more common affliction.  If you are having sex with more than one person and have not been tested for Herpes, you should get tested.

There is so far not a cure for the infection as the virus stays in your body. There are medicines that can help with outbreaks, but the herpes virus remains present.