Perhaps you’re not aware; companies now produce herpes test kits to help with a DIY herpes test. These may be useful for people who feel they have herpes but are hesitant or unable to go to a doctor’s office.
A swab test is available for those with active herpes lesions. However, if the lesion is minor or has begun to heal, the virus may be too small for the test to detect. As a result, there’s a chance of getting a false-negative result.
People who think they may have been exposed to HSV and want to test for reassurance despite the lack of symptoms could instead test for antibodies in the blood.
People should wait 12–16 weeks after sexual intercourse before undergoing a DIY herpes test. The test determines whether the body has generated antibodies against HSV-1 or HSV-2, which can take some time to appear after exposure.
The DIY herpes test is rocket science, after all. You can do it!