Online herpes test — $39, no appointment needed

Herpes Test Melbourne

$39 no additional costs for the tests themselves with Medicare

Full STI screen plus swab of any herpes lesions. Includes chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis. Swab testing is the most accurate method for herpes — more reliable than blood tests. No appointment needed.

pathology clinics Australia-wide

No appointment needed — walk in

Most results within 24 hours

Specialist GP reviews every referral and result

Completely confidential

Collection Urine sample (chlamydia + gonorrhoea PCR) + blood test (syphilis, HIV, hepatitis) + swab of any active herpes lesions (HSV PCR). Optional self-collect throat, vaginal, and rectal swabs.

Get Tested — $39 →

You will receive a pathology referral by SMS. Take it to any pathology clinic.

How it works. Three simple steps from your phone.

Easier than ordering coffee. 2 minutes to order. 10 minutes at pathology. Done.

Order online

Complete a short 2-minute questionnaire from your phone. Your pathology referral is sent straight to you by SMS. No appointment needed.

Visit any pathology clinic

Walk into any of any pathology clinic. Blood test, urine sample, herpes swab, and optional self-collect swabs. No appointment.

Find your nearest clinic →

Results by SMS

Most results within 24 hours by SMS. Occasionally up to 3 days. No results after 3 days? Use our results enquiry form and we will chase them up urgently. Tested positive? Our Specialist GP will contact you to arrange treatment over the phone.

Everything you need to know about herpes test melbourneing

Looking for a herpes test in Melbourne? Clinic365 offers herpes testing from $39 — order online and walk into any of hundreds of Melbourne pathology collection centres. No appointment needed. Your nearest options include clinics in the CBD, East Melbourne, South Melbourne, Carlton, Fitzroy, Richmond, St Kilda, South Yarra, Prahran, and across all Melbourne suburbs. Most results are sent by SMS within 24 hours and reviewed by a Specialist GP. Herpes Test Melbourne is available by telehealth from our Specialist GP.

Herpes simplex virus is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide. There are two types: HSV-1, which traditionally causes oral cold sores, and HSV-2, which typically causes genital herpes. However, either type can infect either location. In Australia, HSV-1 is now the leading cause of new genital herpes cases in young adults, primarily transmitted through oral sex. According to the Australian STI Management Guidelines, herpes is not included in routine asymptomatic STI screening because serological blood tests have significant limitations.

This is why swab testing is the recommended and most accurate diagnostic method for herpes. A swab is taken directly from an active sore, blister, or lesion and tested using PCR, which can identify the specific virus type — HSV-1 or HSV-2 — and has a much higher accuracy rate than blood tests. Blood tests detect antibodies rather than the virus itself, and can produce false positive results, particularly for HSV-1 where oral and genital infections cannot be distinguished by serology alone.

Initial herpes symptoms typically appear two to twelve days after exposure, though some people may not develop symptoms for weeks, months, or ever. The first outbreak is usually the most severe, with painful blisters or sores in the genital, anal, or oral area, sometimes accompanied by flu-like symptoms. Subsequent outbreaks are generally milder and shorter. Many people with herpes have very infrequent or no recognisable outbreaks, which means they can unknowingly transmit the virus through asymptomatic shedding.

If you have an active sore or blister, the best time to test is as soon as possible — ideally within 48 hours of the lesion appearing. Accuracy decreases as the sore begins to heal. The Clinic365 online herpes test includes a herpes swab alongside the standard five-infection STI screen, so you are comprehensively tested in a single pathology visit. If you do not have active lesions, a telehealth consultation can help determine whether blood testing is appropriate for your circumstances.

There is no cure for herpes, but it is a highly manageable condition. Antiviral medications such as antiviral medications can reduce the severity and duration of outbreaks, decrease the frequency of recurrences, and significantly lower the risk of transmitting the virus to a partner. Many people with herpes take daily suppressive therapy and experience few if any outbreaks after the first year. A herpes diagnosis is not the end of a healthy sex life — with proper management and open communication, most people with herpes maintain normal and fulfilling intimate relationships.

Regular sexual health screening is recommended for anyone who is sexually active, even when no symptoms are present. Most sexually transmitted infections produce no noticeable symptoms in the early stages, which means they can be unknowingly passed to sexual partners. Australian guidelines recommend at least annual screening for sexually active adults, and more frequent testing for those with new or multiple partners. If you have had unprotected sex with a new partner, testing is recommended even if you feel well.

If your test results are positive, your Specialist GP will contact you directly to discuss treatment options and arrange treatment. Most bacterial STIs respond well to a short course of antibiotics and are straightforward to manage when detected early. Partner notification is an important part of treatment — all recent sexual partners should be informed and tested, even if they have no symptoms. Your GP can advise on how to approach this conversation, including anonymous notification options if preferred.

Author: Dr Ed Skinner

MBBS, FRACGP · Specialist GP · AHPRA · MED0001674680

Last reviewed: April 2026

Frequently asked questions

Complete a 2-minute questionnaire. You receive a pathology referral by SMS. Walk into any pathology clinic — no appointment needed. Blood test, urine sample, and herpes swab take about 10 minutes. Most results within 24 hours by SMS.

No. If you have a Medicare card, the pathology tests themselves are bulk-billed at no additional cost. The $39 covers the consultation and referral.

No. Walk into any pathology clinic Australia-wide with your SMS referral. Most are open Monday to Saturday. No booking needed at most locations.

Yes. Results go directly to you by SMS. We do not notify your regular GP, employer, or insurer. At the pathology clinic, STI tests are processed like any other blood test — staff don't know which specific tests are ordered.

Typically yes. A standard GP visit costs $40–$80 and may not include herpes swab testing. The $39 Clinic365 screen covers the full STI panel plus herpes swab — with a Specialist GP reviewing your results.

Swab testing is most accurate when there are active sores or blisters. If you do not have active lesions, a telehealth consultation ($59) can discuss whether blood testing is appropriate for your situation.

Blood tests for herpes antibodies are available but not routinely recommended for asymptomatic screening due to high false-positive rates. Swab testing during an active outbreak is the most accurate method. Speak to your GP about whether testing is appropriate.

HSV-1 traditionally causes cold sores and HSV-2 causes genital herpes, but either type can affect either location. HSV-1 is now the most common cause of new genital herpes cases in young Australians, usually transmitted through oral sex.

Initial symptoms typically appear 2–12 days after exposure, though some people may not develop symptoms for weeks, months, or ever. The first outbreak is usually the most severe.

There is no cure for herpes, but antiviral medication can reduce the severity and frequency of outbreaks. Many people have very infrequent outbreaks after the first year. Suppressive therapy is available for frequent outbreaks.