With the proliferation of home testing kits for various health concerns, it’s no surprise that there is now a DIY test for herpes. But is this test worth taking? What are the pros and cons? Let’s take a closer look.
On the plus side, the test is relatively easy to take and can be done in the privacy of your own home. All you need to do is swab the inside of your cheek and send the swab off to a lab for analysis. The results will be mailed back to you within a few days. The test is also relatively affordable, costing around $60.
There are, however, some drawbacks to consider. Because the test is so new, not much is known about its accuracy. Some experts estimate that it may only be 50% accurate, which means there’s a good chance you could get a false positive or false negative result.
Additionally, because the test looks for antibodies to the virus rather than the virus itself, there’s a possibility that you could get a positive result even if you don’t have an active infection.
