A friend mentioned over dinner that most people have herpes, and nobody at the table knew whether to laugh or worry. She had read it somewhere, and the question stayed with her afterwards.
She was nearly right. Most adults carry a herpes virus, usually the type that causes cold sores, and most of those people never have symptoms that tell them. To find out your own status, book a herpes test at 117a Harley Street. Results come back within 3 working days, and the two options and their prices are set out below.
The two herpes viruses side by side
The World Health Organization's herpes simplex fact sheet (updated 30/05/2025) estimates that 3.8 billion people under 50, about 64% of the world, had HSV-1 in 2020. For HSV-2 it estimates 520 million people aged 15 to 49, about 13%. The two viruses behave differently, which is why the test you choose matters.
- HSV-1
- About 64% of under-50s worldwide (WHO, 2020 estimate)
- HSV-2
- About 13% of 15 to 49-year-olds worldwide (WHO, 2020 estimate)
- HSV-1
- Mouth and lips as cold sores, sometimes the genitals
- HSV-2
- Genitals and the skin around them
- HSV-1
- Mouth-to-mouth contact, and oral sex to the genitals
- HSV-2
- Sexual skin-to-skin contact
- HSV-1
- Swab of a sore, or antibody blood test
- HSV-2
- Swab of a sore, or antibody blood test
- HSV-1
- PCR swab if a sore is present, blood test for type
- HSV-2
- PCR swab if a sore is present, blood test for type
| HSV-1 | HSV-2 | |
|---|---|---|
| How common | About 64% of under-50s worldwide (WHO, 2020 estimate) | About 13% of 15 to 49-year-olds worldwide (WHO, 2020 estimate) |
| Where it usually shows | Mouth and lips as cold sores, sometimes the genitals | Genitals and the skin around them |
| How it is passed on | Mouth-to-mouth contact, and oral sex to the genitals | Sexual skin-to-skin contact |
| How we find it | Swab of a sore, or antibody blood test | Swab of a sore, or antibody blood test |
| Which test | PCR swab if a sore is present, blood test for type | PCR swab if a sore is present, blood test for type |
Either virus can be passed on when the skin looks completely normal, which is part of why the numbers are so high.
The figures for England
Closer to home, NICE's clinical summary on genital herpes (revised May 2024) cites UKHSA data: 20,530 first episodes of genital herpes were diagnosed in English sexual health clinics in 2020. That was 6% of all new STI diagnoses that year. The same summary notes that 2020 was 40% lower than 2019, because clinics saw fewer people face to face during the pandemic. These are only the people diagnosed with a first outbreak. Everyone who carries the virus quietly sits outside that count, which is why the clinic number looks small next to the WHO estimates.
Why most carriers find out by chance
The same WHO fact sheet says most herpes infections cause no symptoms or go unrecognised. A mild patch of itching, a small crack in the skin or a single cold sore years ago can be the only sign, and plenty of people put it down to something else.
"Most adults carry a herpes virus and never know it. When patients hear that, you can see the relief. It's a very common virus."
Dr Mohammad Bakhtiar, Clinical Lead, GMC 4694470
That is the usual reaction in clinic. A positive result for a virus this widespread is a medical fact that we explain and put in context, and it sits alongside what you already know about cold sores. If you want to see what an outbreak can look like, what herpes looks like has the detail, and herpes myths and facts covers what people often hear wrongly.
Which test we'd use, and when
At 117a Harley Street there are two herpes tests, and they answer different questions.
- PCR swab, £120.63. We take it from an active sore. It tells you the sore is herpes and which type it is.
- Antibody blood test, £103.75, plus the £50 blood draw (£153.75 in total). It shows which type you carry. It cannot say where on the body the virus is or when you caught it. We suggest waiting 12 weeks after a possible exposure.
Both come back within 3 working days. With a sore, come in as soon as it appears, because the swab works best on a fresh sore. The doctor looks at it first, takes the swab in a few seconds, and tells you which result to expect and when. With no sore and a wish to know where you stand, the blood test is the one to book. You can walk in, and the doctor will talk you through the result.
How we explain the result when it comes back
The antibody result arrives as two lines, one for HSV-1 and one for HSV-2, and the doctor goes through both with you.
- HSV-1 positive, HSV-2 negative. This usually reflects the cold sore virus. The test cannot say whether it lives on the lips or the genitals, so the doctor asks about cold sores, oral sex and any past sores before saying what it means for you.
- HSV-2 positive. HSV-2 mostly settles in the genital area. The doctor talks through what that means for a partner and what to do if you ever get a sore.
- Both negative. You have no antibodies to either type at the time of the test. If the contact you are worried about was within the last 12 weeks, the doctor may suggest repeating it.
Every result comes with a doctor to talk it through, and treatment can be arranged here if you ever need it.
Which packages include herpes
Herpes I & II is part of our STI screening packages from Silver upwards. Silver costs £325 for men and £375 for women, and Gold and Platinum include it too. Bronze, at £250, covers the core infections and leaves herpes out, so if herpes is on your mind, start at Silver. Every package includes a consultation with a doctor. You can see what each tier covers on the women's and men's package pages. For the full range we offer, see private STI testing in London.
Come and see us
Book a herpes test if you have a new partner, a sore you would like looked at, or a partner who has herpes. We are open Monday to Friday 09:00 to 18:00 and Saturday and Sunday 10:00 to 14:00, and you will find us at 117a Harley Street.