Detects: Recent infection to the Herpes Simplex Virus, including type 1 and type 2.
Sometimes waiting 6-12 weeks for a reliable herpes blood test result is just unthinkable. In these cases the IgM antibody screening is a great option to have. While it won’t provide a conclusive result on its own, it can provide reliable insight within a couple weeks of exposure. IgM antibodies are produced in the body for multiple reasons, including a recent exposure to the herpes simplex virus. If you’ve had a recent exposure to the virus and IgM antibodies are not present, there’s a good chance that you did not contract the virus. Alternatively if antibodies are present it may indicate recent infection, but further testing with a type-1 IgG or type-2 IgG antibody screening is encouraged at a later date.
