--- title: Herpes (HSV 1 & 2) Antibody Test Test type: test id: herpes-hsv url: "https://www.test-well.com/tests/herpes-hsv-1-2" price_usd: 54.99 lab_fee_usd: 6 all_in_usd: 60.99 category: STI & Infectious Disease sample: Blood draw fasting_required: false results_in: "2–5 business days" labs: - Quest - Labcorp - BioReference orderable: false --- # Herpes (HSV 1 & 2) Antibody Test Test > Herpes (HSV 1 & 2) Antibody Test measures HSV-1 IgG Antibody and HSV-2 IgG Antibody from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $54.99 plus a $6 lab fee, needs no fasting, and results post in 2–5 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Quest or Labcorp. **Not orderable yet.** This test is listed for information; TestWell is finishing lab registration and it cannot be added to a cart today. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Price | $54.99 + $6 lab processing fee per order ($60.99 all-in for this test alone) | | Sample | Blood draw | | Fasting | Not required | | Results | 2–5 business days | | Labs | Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp, BioReference (NY & NJ) | | Biomarkers measured | 2 | | Physician authorization | Included — no doctor's visit, referral or insurance needed | | Payment | Card, HSA or FSA; cash-pay only (no insurance billing) | ## What does the Herpes (HSV 1 & 2) Antibody Test test tell you? Type-specific antibody test distinguishing between HSV-1 (oral) and HSV-2 (genital) herpes. This test detects type-specific IgG antibodies to both HSV-1 and HSV-2, allowing you to know which type(s) you carry. HSV-1 typically causes oral herpes while HSV-2 is more commonly associated with genital herpes, though either type can infect either location. Antibodies typically develop 2–12 weeks after infection. Many carriers are asymptomatic and unaware of their status. **Clinical use:** HSV-1 and HSV-2 IgG antibody test. Diagnoses past or chronic herpes infection. Note: routine HSV screening is NOT recommended for asymptomatic adults due to high false-positive rates — order only if symptomatic or partner-affected. ## Who should order it? Anyone with recurrent genital or oral lesions of unclear cause, partners of someone with herpes wanting to know their status, anyone with first-episode genital ulcer, pre-pregnancy or pregnancy screening (selective). ## Biomarkers measured - HSV-1 IgG Antibody - HSV-2 IgG Antibody ## Price by lab | Lab | Test price | All-in (with $6 fee) | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Quest Diagnostics | $54.99 | $60.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) | | Labcorp | $62.99 | $68.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) | | BioReference (NY & NJ) | $57.99 | $63.99 | New York and New Jersey orders route here automatically | Rhode Island is not served. Prices are identical online and in the lab; no draw fee or physician fee is added. ## How much does a Herpes (HSV 1 & 2) Antibody Test test cost? A Herpes (HSV 1 & 2) Antibody Test test costs $54.99 at TestWell — $60.99 all-in when ordered alone, because the $6 lab processing fee is charged once per order, with no draw fee or physician fee added. Ordered directly from the labs' own consumer sites, the same test lists at $105.00 at Quest Health and $149.00 at Labcorp OnDemand (list prices checked Sep 12, 2026). Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $300.00 self-pay for the same test, and often more. With insurance, what you pay depends on your deductible and your plan's negotiated rate; TestWell's price is fixed before the draw and is HSA/FSA-eligible. | Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | TestWell (drawn at Quest or Labcorp) | $54.99 | $60.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order | | Quest Health (Quest Diagnostics' own site) | $105.00 | $105.00 | [list price checked 2026-09-12](https://www.questhealth.com/product/herpes-hsv-1-2-test/17169M.html) | | Labcorp OnDemand (Labcorp's own site) | $149.00 | $149.00 | [list price checked 2026-09-12](https://www.ondemand.labcorp.com/lab-tests/herpes-antibody-test) | | Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $300.00 | $300.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher | Lab test codes: Quest test code 3640 · Labcorp test no. 164099 · BioReference code 0109-9. ## How do you prepare? No fasting required. Most accurate 12+ weeks after potential exposure. ## Related conditions - Herpes simplex type 1 (B00.9) - Genital herpes (HSV-2) (A60.9) - Herpes labialis (B00.1) - Anogenital herpes (A60.9) ## Common questions about the Herpes (HSV 1 & 2) Antibody Test test ### What does an HSV IgG test detect? Type-specific IgG antibodies to HSV-1 (typically oral, but increasingly genital) and HSV-2 (typically genital). IgG develops 4-12 weeks after primary infection and persists for life. This test does NOT detect active outbreaks — only past or chronic infection. For an active lesion, swab PCR is more reliable. ### Should I get tested if I have no symptoms? CDC and USPSTF specifically recommend against routine HSV screening in asymptomatic adults because false-positive rates are high (especially HSV-2 IgG below index 3.5) and the psychological cost of a false positive outweighs the clinical benefit. Test only if symptomatic, partner-affected, or pregnant with risk factors. ### What's a positive HSV test? Index value above 1.1 is reported positive. Values 1.1-3.5 (especially for HSV-2) are commonly false positives — many labs reflex to a confirmatory Western blot when in this gray zone. Above 3.5 is reliably positive. ### How much does an HSV test cost without insurance? On TestWell, the HSV 1 & 2 IgG test is $54.99. Quest Direct lists the same test at $105, walk-in hospital labs typically bill $200-300 without insurance. ### What CPT codes are billed? HSV-1 IgG: CPT 86695. HSV-2 IgG: CPT 86696. Both billed together on a single requisition. ### Do I need to fast? No fasting required. Any time of day. ### What's the difference between an antibody test and a swab? Antibody (IgG) testing detects past infection at any time but takes 4-12 weeks after exposure to become reliable. A swab PCR of an active lesion confirms current infection within hours but only works if you have a visible sore. For symptomatic patients, both can be useful. ## How to order This test is not orderable yet. 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Educational content is not a diagnosis — discuss results with a clinician.