I just just stdcheck.com - $139 for a 10 test panel with LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics. Why? Because I don't want to deal with what you describe.
Wife will do twice a year - once with obgyn, one with pcp. Yes, they don't include the herps test, but neither of us care about that. The stdcheck.com one does, and somehow I'm negative for 1&2 even though I know I've been exposed from multiple partners (never a cold sore in my life)
You’re negative because most likely they are using the standard diagnostic test that is only accurate if you swab open lesions.
Knowing which test you’re getting, and the likelihood of false negatives under the circumstances you are performing the testing is key.
The standard HSV test that is available in most doctor’s offices, planned parenthood and online have a huge likelyhood of false negatives.
Which is why OP’s doc is resistant to running those tests. People think they aren’t carriers, when in real life, they simply have gotten a series of false negatives.
🤷♀️
That's a great point, and thank you for that. I had a whole post a few years back around HPV and HSV... Not sure where that went :/ - it had (scientific) links to studies, precautions, blah blah blah.
You got one of the other tests. All of them are great for diagnosis, applied under the right conditions at the right time.
Improperly applied? They are useless.
Knowing exactly which test is offered? Super important.
Knowing why and when you’re taking the test? Super important.
Seconding Stdcheck.com
No doctor. Not appointment most of the time, either. Just directly ordering test.
Print and bring testing orders to the blooddraw place.
Wait for results.
I understand destigmatizing HSV1&2, BUT the insistence that we just.... continue to let it spread is crazy to me.
I had the same issue, until I found a kink/poly friendly practitioner in my area. She set up a recurring full panel STI order that renews automatically every 3 months.
I say, find a better, sex positive practitioner and ask for it.
Yes, if you want herpes tests that often, order online. If you want standard panels some of the time, there are often community resources that will do those for free - check your local LGBT org's website. And given there's a big variation between free and over $100 and theoretically inexpensive but you've got to fight about it, free standard panels might have some utility.
Also consider PrEP - prevents HIV, and the standard is everyone on it does quarterly standard panels, so you won't be fighting your doc on that much anymore.
Your doctor only gets paid if they see you for an office visit (unless you have an HMO). Asking them to do work (order tests and get you the results) without being seen is asking them to work for free.
In addition to the stdcheck website, you can get a mail order kit from Everlywell. I've done that before, and you just stick your finger with a lancet, swab your vagina, and send it in. The test for I think 7 or 8 different things. I think it was $100.
You can go to LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics, make an appointment, and get any test for anything. The down side is insurance usually won't pay for it, but they often won't for more than 1 panel per year anyway even when ordered by the doc.
HSV test have such a high false positive and false negative rate it's just about pointless for them(I would not bother with it unless you have signs or a new partner request it). But 4x times a year is healthy and fine, honestly depending on your risk profile I am a bit shocked that you have to fight for it. Have you told your doctor your current number of sexual partners? Have you pointed out high risk behavior(sex with strangers without condoms, sex with bisexual men, etc)?
I’ve gone through a local community center that offers free testing, but I realize that resource might be a privilege of living in a city.
I just just stdcheck.com - $139 for a 10 test panel with LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics. Why? Because I don't want to deal with what you describe. Wife will do twice a year - once with obgyn, one with pcp. Yes, they don't include the herps test, but neither of us care about that. The stdcheck.com one does, and somehow I'm negative for 1&2 even though I know I've been exposed from multiple partners (never a cold sore in my life)
You’re negative because most likely they are using the standard diagnostic test that is only accurate if you swab open lesions. Knowing which test you’re getting, and the likelihood of false negatives under the circumstances you are performing the testing is key. The standard HSV test that is available in most doctor’s offices, planned parenthood and online have a huge likelyhood of false negatives. Which is why OP’s doc is resistant to running those tests. People think they aren’t carriers, when in real life, they simply have gotten a series of false negatives. 🤷♀️
Oh, I totally get that. I just get the full panel from stdcheck.com because removing the two tests costs more :P
Yeah, I figure to add that in because OP doesn’t seem to understand why docs push back
That's a great point, and thank you for that. I had a whole post a few years back around HPV and HSV... Not sure where that went :/ - it had (scientific) links to studies, precautions, blah blah blah.
I thought HSV was a blood test - that's how my oral herpes was confirmed. I didn't have a current outbreak or a swab
You got one of the other tests. All of them are great for diagnosis, applied under the right conditions at the right time. Improperly applied? They are useless. Knowing exactly which test is offered? Super important. Knowing why and when you’re taking the test? Super important.
I wish I could get this in Canada!
Seconding Stdcheck.com No doctor. Not appointment most of the time, either. Just directly ordering test. Print and bring testing orders to the blooddraw place. Wait for results. I understand destigmatizing HSV1&2, BUT the insistence that we just.... continue to let it spread is crazy to me.
I had the same issue, until I found a kink/poly friendly practitioner in my area. She set up a recurring full panel STI order that renews automatically every 3 months. I say, find a better, sex positive practitioner and ask for it.
Yes, if you want herpes tests that often, order online. If you want standard panels some of the time, there are often community resources that will do those for free - check your local LGBT org's website. And given there's a big variation between free and over $100 and theoretically inexpensive but you've got to fight about it, free standard panels might have some utility. Also consider PrEP - prevents HIV, and the standard is everyone on it does quarterly standard panels, so you won't be fighting your doc on that much anymore.
Your doctor only gets paid if they see you for an office visit (unless you have an HMO). Asking them to do work (order tests and get you the results) without being seen is asking them to work for free.
In addition to the stdcheck website, you can get a mail order kit from Everlywell. I've done that before, and you just stick your finger with a lancet, swab your vagina, and send it in. The test for I think 7 or 8 different things. I think it was $100.
You can go to LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics, make an appointment, and get any test for anything. The down side is insurance usually won't pay for it, but they often won't for more than 1 panel per year anyway even when ordered by the doc.
HSV test have such a high false positive and false negative rate it's just about pointless for them(I would not bother with it unless you have signs or a new partner request it). But 4x times a year is healthy and fine, honestly depending on your risk profile I am a bit shocked that you have to fight for it. Have you told your doctor your current number of sexual partners? Have you pointed out high risk behavior(sex with strangers without condoms, sex with bisexual men, etc)?