Normal Values:

A negative test means you have not been exposured to the herpes virus.

What abnormal results mean:

A positive test means you have been infected with the herpes simplex virus recently or at some point in the past. Certain patterns of antibodies can sometimes help determine whether the infection is recent.

Approximately 70% of adults have been infected by HSV-1 and have antibodies against the virus. About 20% of adults will have antibodies against the HSV-2 virus.

If the infection occurred very recently (within a few weeks to 3 months), the test may not pick up antibodies, but you may still be infected. This is called a false negative.

Herpes simplex virus stays in your system once you have been infected. It may be dormant and cause no symptoms, or may flare up and cause symptoms. This test cannot tell whether you are having a flare-up.

HSV-2 usually causes genital herpes, whereas HSV-1 usually causes cold sores (oral herpes). However, some cases of genital herpes are caused by HSV-1 and vice versa. Because certain antibody tests for herpes simplex can't tell HSV-1 from HSV-2, the results of the tests should be interpreted carefully and you should discuss them with your health care provider.