Better2Know Sexual health & STIs

Herpes Home Test Kit

An at-home finger-prick blood test that checks for Herpes 1 and Herpes 2 antibodies, suited to anyone who wants to know their herpes status without needing to have symptoms.

  • At-home test
  • Subscription available
Sample
Blood
Collection
At-home finger-prick, post to lab; also clinic £145
Results in
2 days
Biomarkers
2
Tests for
  • Herpes 1
  • Herpes 2

Test specifications

Provider
Better2Know
Sample type
blood
Collection method
at-home finger-prick, post to lab; also clinic £145
Turnaround time
2 days
Biomarkers tested
2
At-home test
Yes
Doctor reviewed
No
Gender focus
Both

What's tested

2 biomarkers as listed by Better2Know.

  • Herpes 1
  • Herpes 2

About this test

This home test kit checks for antibodies to Herpes 1 (usually associated with oral cold sores) and Herpes 2 (usually associated with genital herpes) using a finger-prick blood sample you collect yourself. It detects IgG antibodies, which your body produces in the weeks after infection, so it does not require you to have symptoms at the time of testing.

It uses the same two biomarkers as Better2Know's clinic-based Herpes Simplex Type 1 and 2 (Blood) Test, which costs £145, making this home kit £75 cheaper for the same two markers, provided you are comfortable taking your own finger-prick sample rather than having blood drawn by a clinician.

The test scores well on value for money and collection convenience, since it can be done entirely at home and undercuts the median price for similarly sized sexual health tests we track. It scores only moderately on results and follow-up, as results are not reviewed by a doctor as standard.

Who is it for?

This kit suits anyone who wants to check their Herpes 1 and 2 status without needing to visit a clinic or have symptoms, for example as part of routine sexual health screening. Because it uses a finger-prick sample rather than a venous draw, it may be less suitable if you find self-collection difficult or would rather a clinician took the sample.

If you would prefer a clinician-taken venous blood sample instead, Better2Know's Herpes Simplex Type 1 and 2 (Blood) Test uses the same two markers at a clinic for £145. If you currently have symptoms such as sores or blisters, a swab-based test taken from the affected area, or seeing a GP, may be more appropriate than this antibody blood test.

How it works

You collect a small finger-prick blood sample at home using the lancets provided in the kit, then post it to Better2Know's laboratory using the prepaid envelope included. Results are available within two working days of the sample reaching the lab and are uploaded to your secure online patient area; you can also choose to be notified by phone, email or SMS. Results are not reviewed by a doctor as standard.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Can be completed entirely at home with a finger-prick sample, no clinic visit needed.
  • £75 cheaper than Better2Know's clinic-based version of the same test.
  • Results available within two working days.
  • Does not require you to have symptoms at the time of testing.

Cons

  • No doctor review of results as standard.
  • Self-collected finger-prick sample rather than a clinician-taken draw.
  • Antibodies take 4-6 weeks to develop after exposure, so testing too soon may be too early to detect them.

Our editorial score

Compare Health Test Score Home alternative to Better2Know's clinic herpes test
Editorial confidence: 9.0/10

This finger-prick kit tests for Herpes 1 and Herpes 2 antibodies at home, using the same two markers as Better2Know's clinic-based blood test at £145 but for £70. Results take two working days and are not reviewed by a doctor as standard.

Score breakdown

  • Clarity and documentation 9.0/10

    The listing publishes a detailed description, the full biomarker list, a stated turnaround, clear collection options, the sample type; it does not state what the report looks like.

  • Clinical depth 7.6/10

    2 biomarkers, placing it in the 51st percentile of sexual health tests we track.

  • Collection convenience 8.0/10

    A finger-prick sample you take at home; with a venous or clinic option as well; results in around 2 days, in line with or faster than similar tests.

  • Results and follow-up 3.0/10

    Results are not doctor-reviewed and no consultation is included; the provider does not describe the report format.

  • Trust signals 6.5/10

    Trustpilot 4.2 from 775 reviews; CQC registered; trading 18+ years.

  • Value for money 9.1/10

    £70.00 against a median of £145.00 for the 108 similarly sized sexual health tests we track (-52%).

Calculated 13 September 2026 from the facts we hold about this test and provider, using our published scoring formula. Scores are not hand-edited.

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