STI TEST · BANGKOK
Herpes Test in Bangkok
Testing for genital herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2) with a doctor who comes to you in Bangkok, including a swab of any sore and type-specific blood tests where they help.
Message Ovio Medically reviewed by Kewalee Rujikajorn, MD · 24 September 2026
Genital herpes test at a glance.
- Best sampleA swab of an active sore
- When to testWhile a sore is present
- SymptomsMost carriers never notice any
- TreatmentAntivirals control it; no cure
- Who comesA doctor, to your home, condo, hotel or office
- ResultsExplained by your doctor
- PriceConfirmed before your visit
THE INFECTION
What is genital herpes?
- Cause
- A virus, herpes simplex type 1 or type 2
- Also called
- Herpes simplex virus infection · HSV-1 · HSV-2 · Herpes genitalis
Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types. HSV-1 is the virus behind most cold sores, but it increasingly causes genital herpes through oral sex. HSV-2 mainly causes genital herpes. Both spread through skin-to-skin contact, including when the skin looks completely normal.
Herpes is extremely common. Most people who carry the virus have never had a recognisable outbreak and do not know they have it. When symptoms do appear, the first episode is usually the worst, and later outbreaks tend to be milder and less frequent over time.
There is no cure, but herpes is a manageable skin condition, not a threat to general health for most people. Antiviral tablets shorten outbreaks, can prevent them, and reduce the chance of passing the virus to a partner. The key question for testing is timing: the most reliable test is a swab taken while a sore is present.
Symptoms of genital herpes.
A first outbreak usually appears within two weeks of infection, but it can also appear months or years later, the first time the virus becomes active.
First outbreak
- Painful blisters or open sores on the genitals or anus
- Tingling, itching or burning beforehand
- Pain when passing urine
- Fever, aches and swollen glands
Recurrent outbreaks
- Fewer, smaller sores
- Tingling in the same area a day before
- Heal faster, often within a week
- Tend to become less frequent over time
Most infections are never recognised. Herpes can pass to partners even when there are no sores, which is how most people get it.
How the genital herpes test works.
How herpes is tested depends on whether there is a sore to test. Blood tests have a narrower role than many people expect.
Swab PCR (lesion test)
Swab of a blister or sore
The preferred test. It detects the virus directly and identifies HSV-1 or HSV-2. Best within the first few days of a sore.
Type-specific antibody test (IgG)
Blood
Shows past infection with HSV-1 or HSV-2. Useful in selected situations, not as routine screening. Can take up to 12 weeks to turn positive.
Testing with Ovio
- Tell us what you needCall or message Ovio, privately. Say where you are in Bangkok and when suits you.
- A doctor comes to youAt your home, condo, hotel or office. The doctor asks about your concerns and recommends the right samples.
- Samples go to the laboratoryTaken there and then; for most tests the visit itself is short.
- Your result, explainedWhat it means, and what to do next if anything needs treatment or a repeat test.
Not sure which test you need?
Speak to one of our doctors. They will ask about your situation and suggest the tests, samples and timing that fit it.
When to test for genital herpes.
Every test has a window period: the time after exposure before it can reliably detect an infection. A test taken too early can be negative even when the infection is there.
| Test | Sample | Timing after exposure | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lesion NAAT when sores are present | Swab of an active lesion | Seek assessment while a lesion is present; no single post-exposure date fits. | Routine HSV-2 blood screening without symptoms is not recommended by CDC. |
Sources: CDC2
Who should get tested
- Anyone with blisters, sores or unexplained genital or anal skin changes
- Anyone with recurring sores in the same place
- Someone whose partner has genital herpes, to understand their own status
- Anyone who is pregnant and has a history of herpes or a partner with herpes
AFTER THE TEST
Results and next steps.
If a swab confirms herpes, antiviral tablets such as aciclovir or valaciclovir shorten the first outbreak and ease the pain. People with frequent outbreaks can take a daily dose that prevents most of them.
A diagnosis of herpes is common and manageable. Knowing the type helps: genital HSV-1 tends to recur less often than HSV-2. Telling partners, avoiding sex during outbreaks and, where appropriate, daily antivirals all reduce the chance of passing it on.
Genital herpes can raise the risk of acquiring HIV, so an HIV test at the same time is sensible.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you are unwell, in severe pain or worried about something urgent, contact a doctor now or go to a hospital emergency department.
Genital herpes testing:
your questions.
Can't see your question? Ask one of our doctors.
A swab of an active blister or sore, tested by PCR. It confirms herpes and tells you whether it is HSV-1 or HSV-2, which helps predict how often it may come back. The swab works best in the first few days of a sore, so contact a doctor as soon as one appears rather than waiting for it to heal.
Partly. A type-specific antibody (IgG) blood test shows whether you have been infected with HSV-1 or HSV-2 at some point, but not where on the body, or when. A positive HSV-1 result is common and may simply reflect cold sores. Results can also take up to around 12 weeks to become positive after a new infection, and IgM tests are not recommended because they are unreliable.
Not usually for people without symptoms. Guidelines such as the CDC's do not recommend routine herpes blood screening, because false positives are possible and a result rarely changes what you should do. A doctor may still suggest a blood test in specific situations, for example if a partner has genital herpes or you have unexplained recurring sores.
Yes. The virus can be shed from skin that looks normal, and the World Health Organization notes that HSV-2 is often transmitted in the absence of symptoms. Daily antiviral medicine and condoms both lower the risk, and avoiding sex during outbreaks lowers it further.
No, the virus stays in the body for life. But outbreaks usually become milder and less frequent, and antiviral tablets such as aciclovir or valaciclovir treat outbreaks quickly or prevent them when taken daily.
The main risk is a first infection late in pregnancy, which can pass to the baby during birth. If you or a partner have herpes and you are pregnant, tell your doctor or midwife so they can plan antiviral treatment and delivery.
MEDICALLY REVIEWED
Kewalee Rujikajorn, MD
General Practitioner, Bangkok
Reviewed 24 September 2026
Kewalee Rujikajorn is a general practitioner in Bangkok, providing outpatient care for urgent, acute and chronic illness and remote consultations through a telemedicine platform. A graduate of the Medical University of Lublin, Kewalee completed postgraduate medical training at Thammasat University Hospital and has published research in ophthalmology.
Sources.
- Herpes simplex virus: fact sheetWorld Health Organization, 30 May 2025
- Genital Herpes: STI Treatment GuidelinesUS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Ovio uses official public-health sources and reviews this page when they change. Questions about this content: info@oviowellness.com.
Speak to one of our doctors.
A doctor comes to your home, condo, hotel or office in Bangkok, talks through what you are worried about, takes the samples for your genital herpes test and explains what happens next.