Finding the right tests…
Emergency services available 24 x 7
Emergency services available 24 x 7
Finding the right tests…
ELISA
HSV 2 IgG antibody testing looks for the type-specific antibody your body makes against herpes simplex virus type 2, the type most often responsible for genital herpes. Unlike a swab from a sore, this blood test can pick up a past infection even between outbreaks, or when no symptoms have ever appeared, because IgG persists for life once you're infected. Doctors order it standalone when someone wants to know their HSV-2 status specifically, before a new sexual relationship, when a partner has genital herpes, or as follow-up after an inconclusive swab, rather than as part of the wider TORCH panel.
This type-specific IgG blood test uses an ELISA-based method and is reported as reactive, non-reactive, or with a borderline index value. A low-positive index result carries a real chance of being a false positive, which is why doctors sometimes ask for a repeat test or a more specific confirmatory method, particularly in someone with no history of genital symptoms, before treating the result as certain.
HSV-2 is the type classically linked to genital herpes, and unlike HSV-1, genital HSV-2 infection is almost always sexually transmitted rather than picked up in childhood. Type-specific IgG antibodies take a few weeks to a few months to build up after infection, then stay detectable for life, so this test works well for confirming exposure status long after any first outbreak has healed.
Testing accuracy matters more here than with most antibody tests. The commonly used HSV-2 IgG assays have reported sensitivity in the range of roughly 80% to 98%, but low-positive readings, sometimes reported as a low index value, are more likely to be false positives, so a low-positive result is often confirmed with a second, more specific method before your doctor relies on it. This is worth asking your doctor about if your report flags a borderline value.
Because a positive result cannot say when or from whom the infection was acquired, and the majority of people with HSV-2 antibodies have never noticed a symptomatic outbreak, doctors generally reserve this test for specific questions, such as confirming exposure before a new relationship or working out whether a partner's genital herpes diagnosis applies to you too, rather than as routine screening for everyone.
No. It means you were exposed to HSV-2 at some point and the antibody has stayed with you since. Most people with HSV-2 antibodies have never noticed a symptomatic outbreak.
Reported sensitivity for commonly used assays runs roughly 80% to 98%, but low-positive results carry a real chance of being false, so a low index value is often confirmed with a second, more specific method.
Type-specific IgG antibodies generally take a few weeks to a few months to build up, so testing too soon after a possible exposure can miss a real infection.
No. It only confirms exposure at some point, not the source or timing.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
Low-positive index values are more likely to be false positives, so your doctor may recommend a repeat or confirmatory test before treating the result as definite. Ask your doctor to walk you through your specific number.
It's the same antibody, but here it's offered as its own standalone test rather than bundled with Toxoplasma, Rubella, CMV, and HSV-1 testing.
Routine screening in people without symptoms or a known exposure is generally not recommended; this test is more useful for specific questions, such as a partner's diagnosis. Ask your doctor whether testing makes sense for you.