Better2Know Sexual health & STIs

Herpes Simplex 1 and 2 Antibody IgM (Blood)

A clinic blood test that checks for IgM antibodies to Herpes 1 and 2, the type of antibody that appears soon after a new infection, suited to people with current symptoms who want to check for a recent herpes infection.

Sample
Blood
Collection
Venous draw at clinic or nurse visit
Results in
5 days
Biomarkers
2
Tests for
  • Herpes 1
  • Herpes 2

Test specifications

Provider
Better2Know
Sample type
blood
Collection method
venous draw at clinic or nurse visit
Turnaround time
5 days
Biomarkers tested
2
At-home test
No
Doctor reviewed
No
Gender focus
Both

What's tested

2 biomarkers as listed by Better2Know.

  • Herpes 1
  • Herpes 2

About this test

This test measures Herpes IgM antibodies, the type your immune system produces soon after a new infection with Herpes 1 or Herpes 2. Because IgM appears earlier than the more commonly used IgG antibody, the provider positions this test as most appropriate if you currently have symptoms and want to check whether they are caused by a new Herpes Simplex infection, rather than as a general screening test.

We do not have a comparable group of IgM-specific herpes tests from other providers to weigh this £175 price against, so we cannot say whether it is cheap or expensive relative to the wider market. Within the sexual health tests we track more broadly, it covers two biomarkers, placing it around the middle of the range for clinical depth.

It scores around the middle for value for money and collection convenience, since it requires a venous draw at a clinic (with a home nurse visit as an alternative) and results take five working days. It scores only moderately on results and follow-up, because results are not reviewed by a doctor as standard, though Better2Know says it will connect you with a doctor if you test positive.

Who is it for?

This test suits people who currently have symptoms, such as sores or blisters, and want to check whether they are caused by a new Herpes Simplex infection, since IgM antibodies appear soon after a fresh infection. It is less suited to general screening if you have no symptoms and simply want to know your overall herpes status, where an IgG-based test is the more usual choice.

We do not have data on comparable IgM-specific tests from other providers to say whether a cheaper or faster alternative exists elsewhere. If your symptoms are severe or you are unsure, it is worth seeing a GP as well.

How it works

A clinician takes a venous blood sample at a Better2Know clinic, or during a home nurse visit, in an appointment that typically takes around ten minutes. The sample is sent to the provider's laboratory for IgM antibody analysis, with results stated to take five working days. Results are uploaded to your secure online patient area, and you can also opt to be notified by phone, email or SMS. Results are not reviewed by a doctor as standard.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Detects IgM antibodies, which appear soon after a new infection, useful if you have current symptoms.
  • Home nurse visit offered as an alternative to a clinic appointment.
  • Clear description of the sample type, biomarkers and turnaround on the listing.

Cons

  • No doctor review of results as standard.
  • Requires a venous blood draw at a clinic or nurse visit; no self-collected home kit is listed for this test.
  • We don't have a comparable IgM-specific herpes test from another provider to check its price against.

Our editorial score

Compare Health Test Score IgM blood test for a newly acquired herpes infection
Editorial confidence: 9.0/10

This clinic blood test looks for IgM antibodies, which appear soon after a new Herpes 1 or 2 infection, making it suited to people with current symptoms who want to check for a recent infection rather than their longer-term status. At £175, results take five 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 4.0/10

    Requires a venous draw at a clinic; a home nurse visit is offered; results in around 5 days, slower 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 5.5/10

    £175.00 against a median of £145.00 for the 108 similarly sized sexual health tests we track (+21%).

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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