Instant Herpes Simplex Type 1

Better2Know’s Instant Herpes Simplex Type 1 Test

Choose Better2Know’s instant Herpes Simplex Type 1 (HSV 1) test for confidential rapid results, and all the support you might need from our experienced sexual health advisors. If you have any concerns about whether you have been exposed to Herpes Simplex Type 1, you should get tested as soon as possible.

When can I get tested?

An incubation period of four weeks is recommended for Better2Know’s instant HSV 1 test. This is the minimum period between potential exposure and having the test. This is to ensure the accuracy of your confidential results.

When will I receive my results?

You will receive the results of your private instant HSV 1 test from just 15 minutes after your blood sample has been collected. Your Better2Know doctors will give you your results and a copy of your Better2Know Rapid Test Results report.

How accurate is my instant Herpes Simplex Type 1 test?

After the appropriate incubation period has elapsed, your HSV 1 test is 99% accurate. Better2Know’s private STI tests and screens are regularly reviewed by our panel of medical experts, so you can rest assured that you are receiving the most up-to-date instant STI test available.

What other STIs should I get tested for?

Better2Know’s instant STI testing service provides confidential instant tests for eight common sexually transmitted infections. You can choose to add tests for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, Herpes Type 2, Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea.

Your Instant Herpes Simplex Type 1 Testing Process

Better2Know’s experienced sexual health advisors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your convenience. They will listen to your circumstances, concerns and help you select the sexual health test or screen that most suits your requirements. Your call and appointment are completely confidential. You do not have to give us your real name at any time, and we will not share your results with anyone without your consent.

Book Your Instant Herpes Type 1 Test

Arranging your private appointment is quick, easy and stress-free. Simply get in touch with Better2Know either by phone or email or you can book online. We are here 24 hours a day 7 days a week. We will then send you confirmation of your booking and details of how to log into your patient area to see your appointment details and a map of the clinic.

Attending Better2Know’s Private Sexual Health Clinic

At your appointment, you will see one of our Better2Know clinicians. They will go through your instant HSV 1 test, explain the testing process, and answer any questions that you have.

Sample Collection and Analysis

We need a small blood sample to run the instant HSV 1 test. Normally, we will collect your sample using a lancet to prick your finger. Your sample is then applied to the test cassette, and a buffer solution is added to start the test. If your instant test is negative for HSV 1, only one line will appear. Reactive HSV 1 tests will show two lines.

Next steps if your Herpes Type 1 test is reactive

If your instant HSV 1 test is reactive for infection, this means you have contracted the Herpes Simplex Type 1 virus at some time and that your body has developed antibodies against it. As a Herpes Type 1 infection will never go away, you will remain infected for life.

Herpes Simplex Type 1: Transmission, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention

HSV 1 Transmission

Herpes Simplex Type 1 is a virus that mainly lives in the nerve fibres of the face, jaw and groin. It can be transmitted through direct contact with the infected fluids of someone infected with the virus. This can include through:

• Unprotected sex including vaginal and anal sexual contact

• Kissing when your partner has blisters

• Performing oral sex on someone who is infected

• Herpes Simplex Type 1 can also be transmitted even when the infected person is not experiencing an active outbreak. Sometimes, even in the absence of blisters, the Herpes Simplex virus will migrate to the surface of the skin where it can be transmitted from person to person. This is called “asymptomatic shedding” and is one of the reasons why the Herpes virus infects so many people.

Herpes Simplex Type 1 is one of the most common infections around the world. The World Health Organisation estimates that 3.8 billion people under the age of 50 are infected with the Herpes Simplex Type 1 virus. That represents around 64 percent of the global population.

It is understood that most people are first exposed and infected with the HSV 1virus at a young age. Transmission from infected parents, siblings, relatives and friends being the most likely route.

Herpes Simplex Type 1 Symptoms

Most HSV 1 infections are asymptomatic or unrecognized, but symptoms of HSV 1 can include painful blisters or ulcers that can recur over time. For many individuals, the first outbreak following infection is often the worst.

The first signs are usually a stinging or tingling sensation at the site where the outbreak is going to occur. This is most frequently around the mouth and on the lips. This sensation is then followed by a reddening of the skin, quickly followed by the appearance of small, fluid filled blisters. The fluid in the blisters is the main reservoir of HSV 1 viral particles. As the skin covering the blisters is thin and easily ruptured, the virus rich fluids are then easily spread onto the skin of the receiving person.

The HSV 1 viruses then enter the body through any pore, fissure, crack or opening and will quickly migrate to the sensory nerves in the trigeminal ganglion, dorsal root ganglia, and other parts of the peripheral nervous system. The Herpes Simplex Type 1 virus can also infect the central nervous system and spread to the brain.

Once infected, the HSV 1 virus will stay with you for life. Whilst there is no cure, subsequent outbreaks are generally milder and become ever less frequent. This means that people infected with HSV 1 can often go for years with no outward sign of infection.

In some individuals, outbreaks will remain severe and debilitating. In these cases, anti-viral medications can be prescribed which reduce both the severity and frequency of outbreaks, contributing greatly to quality of life>/p> Many people with HSV 1 will not notice any symptoms, but when they do occur, symptoms can include:

• Fatigue feeling very tired

• Stinging, tingling and itching where the blisters will erupt

• Blistering of the skin

• Sore muscles and body aches

• Headache, joint pain and swollen lymph nodes

• Fever

Herpes Simplex type 1 Treatment

Whilst there is no cure for HSV 1, there are medications which can help reduce symptoms and speed up healing. There are some creams that can be purchased from pharmacies which will reduce the severity of any outbreak and help the skin to heal after the blistering phase. There are also anti-viral medications that can be prescribed which will interfere with the HSV 1 viruses’ ability to replicate and prevent them from entering and infecting cells.

HSV 1: Consequences of an Untreated Infection

Fortunately, a Herpes Simplex Type 1 infection is unlikely to badly affect your health. Whilst the outbreaks can be painful and lead to unsightly blistering and scabbing, the virus itself is not generally known to adversely affect other organs or bodily functions. There are of course some instances where HSV 1 has infected the eyes, the brain and other organs, leading to severe adverse consequences but these cases are rare

Herpes Simplex Type 1 Prevention

You can help to prevent getting HSV 1, or passing it on to a new partner by:

• Avoid touching or kissing another person’s blisters

• Always use a condom for sex

• Avoid sex when you or your partner is symptomatic

• Wash your genitals after sex as this might reduce the chance of infection

• Limit the number of sexual partners that you have

• Get tested regularly

Book Your Private Instant HSV 1 Test

Speak to a Better2Know sexual health advisor today by contacting us directly using the number displayed at the top of the page. We are happy to answer any additional questions as well as arranging your confidential appointment for a time and date that suits you. Alternatively, just click Get Started and book your Herpes Simplex Type 1 test now.