ANY QUESTIONS?

Thank you for your interest in inviting BBC Radio 4's Any Questions? to your organisation. Because of the responsibility involved, it may be helpful if they outline what exactly you are letting yourself in for!

Any Questions? was first broadcast in October 1948; each week it visits a different community with a panel of four speakers who answer questions from an audience. The composition of the audience and the quality of questions are obviously crucial to the programme's success.

1. THE AUDIENCE

One of the chief responsibilities for you, the local organiser, is the distribution of tickets . They very much hope that, in general, the audience will be reasonably balanced and properly representative of the local community in terms of age, class, gender, colour, creed and political affiliation.

Tickets are free - when they arrive please call the Broadcast Assistant to confirm you have them. As they will be sent to you direct from the printers, it would be a good idea to open the box to check you have the right tickets and also count them to check you have been sent the correct number of tickets! Please note, they would rather specific seating is not allocated in advance but that the venue is filled from the front on the night in order to make best use of the available seating.

We hope in particular that the tickets will go to people prepared to play a positive role in the broadcast - people who will think about topical issues beforehand and then do their best to contribute useful questions, bearing in mind the interests of the Any Questions? panel that evening and the events of that week. The minimum age limit for audience members is 14.

Members of your organisation will of course expect to have first call on the tickets, but it is essential that you make at least one third of the tickets available to the general public on a 'first come, first served' basis.

We also ask you to offer a number of tickets to the local political parties . They suggest that you contact the local Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat* party offices to advise them of the programme and let them know that you will hold 15** tickets each for them. Any tickets they haven't taken up 2 weeks before broadcast can be released to the public .*Obviously, depending on location, there may be other local factors to consider - for example in Scotland or Wales the Nationalist parties would need to be approached.**In the case of a very large audience (say 500 plus) you may wish to raise the number of tickets offered to the local political parties. They are always happy to advise you on this point.

It would be useful for us if you kept a record of any organisations who apply for tickets, and they may request this information at any stage of the ticketing process.

We do from time to time encounter problems surrounding the issue of 'balance,' and the BBC, being committed to fairness, therefore reserves the right to allocate a number of seats ourselves if necessary. They may also give out a number of tickets to BBC guests (If space is particularly tight at your venue please talk to the producer about how many additional seats have been allocated by us).

For local publicity , they suggest placing posters (we will send these in the post - please confirm you have received them) in places where they will be seen by a broad cross-section of the local community: e.g. public libraries, town halls or civic centres, sports and leisure centres, etc.

We suggest you put the posters up around six weeks before the planned transmission even if you haven't been given all/any of the names of the panellists. It is also important to realise that the panel may be subject to change at any point prior to the broadcast.

Please note that the BBC operates under strict guidelines about product or commercial endorsement. Posters or publicity material featuring the BBC logo must not mention any commercial product, company or company logo. If you wish to produce publicity material in addition to the posters and tickets they supply, please discuss with the producer in advance .

You should also contact the nearest BBC Local Radio stations, as well as the editorial office of local & regional newspapers, to publicise the event .You may like to give an interview, or, if preferred, they can supply an electronic photograph of Jonathan Dimbleby which you can forward to the publication.

Should you wish to invite the local press and local radio they will arrange to reserve seats for them in the audience.

With respect to press photographers on the night, there will certainly be an opportunity for photographs to be taken of the panel before (and usually after) the programme, but they do insist that no photographs are taken during the broadcast. Please instruct any local photographers who will be attending to make personal contact with the producer on the evening so that all restrictions and opportunities can be explained clearly .

The BBC is committed to ensuring that audiences reflect the full diversity of the population. People with disabilities are welcome guests and should be treated with the same respect and consideration as anyone else. Their aim is to provide a venue that is fully accessible to everyone in their audience, so please consider how access can be assured for anyone, for example, coming along in a wheelchair. Please note also that they invariably provide an Induction Loop facility to provide amplified sound for anyone using a hearing aid.

2. THE QUESTIONS

The quality of questions is crucial to the success of the programme and it is important that members of the audience are aware that they rely on their participation to achieve this. They are a topical programme, and they look for questions on the most stimulating moral, political and social issues of the day - in other words, the current issues which will get people talking.

As the programme broadcasts to a UK-wide audience, questions on purely local issues will not be chosen unless they raise matters of genuine national interest.

As they are a weekly programme, it may be that some subjects will have received regular coverage over preceding weeks. The programme in any case strives to achieve a varied choice of subjects from week to week, and therefore, with all the goodwill in the world, they will not be able to guarantee that an issue of particular interest to the local audience will be included in the broadcast.

Finally they are not averse to a bit of humour and they welcome light-hearted questions alongside the more serious ones.

Questions can be submitted up to the last minute and there is no limit on the number of questions individual people can submit.

We will be sending you details of the panellists as soon as they are finalised, as it often helps the audience to know of the background and experience of the panellists they are putting their questions to. They would be grateful if you could distribute the details of the panel with the tickets.

The tickets themselves have a tear-off section for questions to be written on and submitted, but they can also accept questions on other pieces of paper too. Each question should bear the name and address of the sender - clearly written.

Normally, they will provide a compact Any Questions? post-box which can be positioned visibly on a table near the door where the public comes in from around 6.45pm . From this box, they will expect one or two of your stewards to collect the question slips and bring them regularly to the room where the producer is sifting them.

Though some people will have written their questions before coming to the hall, questions may also be written on arrival and handed to stewards; for this purpose, a supply of paper and pencils provided by the host would be useful near the public entrance .

Questions cannot be put by proxy; each questioner must be present in the hall for their question to be included. It is helpful if the local organisation could incorporate this sentence in any circular letter or internal publicity.

3. THE HALL

We would like to ask you to draw a rough sketch of the hall intended for use , indicating the seating area, the stage/platform, the entrances and exits and, if possible, the location of what will become the production room and green room (see information further down). Please send this, along with the enclosed Events Responsibilities Checklist , to:

Hilary Buchanan Broadcast AssistantRoom 5015 (OBH)Broadcasting HousePortland PlaceLondon W1A 1AA

On the day of the broadcast, the hall must be set up with stage carpeted, tables (on stage) and chairs (in hall) set out by 3pm . The hall must be available until 10.00pm to allow time for the engineers to de-rig.

There needs to be a platform provided with adequate top-lighting. The overall size of the stage should be a minimum of 25 feet x 15 feet, preferably at least 2 feet from the floor.

Three similar tables, measuring a minimum of 4 feet by 2 feet should be arranged end to end on the platform as shown below.

AUDIENCE

Our engineers will arrange the stage so that the two wing tables are angled at about 45 degrees in the direction of the audience. In this way, everyone on stage will be able to see each other clearly and interact as naturally as possible. The Producer and the Chairman will sit at the centre table, with two panellists sitting at the table on the left, and two more at the table on the right.

We will provide BBC Radio 4 cloths to cover the tables. However, they ask you to provide carpeting or matting for the tables and chairs to rest on . This is important as their microphones are very sensitive, and sounds of scraping chairs or panellists shuffling their feet on a hard surface will surely be picked up during the broadcast.

For each table they need two water glasses and one jug of water.

We need the use of two backstage rooms at or near the entrance to the hall. One is used as a production office where the questions are brought and sorted. In this we'll need two large tables, three chairs, plus an easily accessible power supply . The second room should be reasonably close to the stage and will be used to house the panellists in the 20 minutes or so they will have to wait (from around 7.40pm) until they are brought on to the platform. (see point 6: PANEL.)

Our engineers normally work from a BBC Outside Broadcast control van parked near the stage, but if, for some reason, a van is not available then they will need to earmark another room or space backstage which they can equip and use as a temporary control room. If this is the case, their engineers will contact you to specify requirements.

In the audience seating, 15 seats in the centre of the front row will be needed for production purposes (10 for those members of the audience whose questions have been selected and who will be called down to the front just before the programme starts and 5 slotted among these for the Broadcast Assistant to use). Please note that if seating is limited this may mean keeping back 5 tickets so that no ticket holders are without a seat. Reserved notices will be provided by the BBC. At the appropriate time, the programme's Broadcast Assistant will be responsible for bringing a microphone to each questioner in turn so that they can put their question on air.

4. SITE SURVEY

BBC Engineers will visit you to inspect the hall some weeks before the broadcast. They will contact you direct and arrange a convenient time. We'd be grateful if you would let us know when the visit has been planned and completed. Nearer the date, British Telecom may also visit to install temporary lines for carrying the broadcast, unless some other means of transmission is decided upon by us. The lines will also be tested as appropriate.

5. TIMING ON THE DAY

The engineers will need access to the hall from 1200 noon on the day of the broadcast.

The Producer and Broadcast Assistant will arrive at the hall at around 3pm to meet the organiser , finalise the stage arrangements, and sort out any last minute details. They normally expect to be absent from the hall itself between 5.00 and 6.30pm .

We ask the audience to come to the hall between 6.45pm and 7.15pm, and during this period they would expect most of the questions to be submitted. The production team will arrive back at the venue shortly after 6.30pm to begin sifting and choosing questions for the broadcast (the final selection is made by about 7.40pm ). At around 7.10pm , the chairman will arrive at the hall and should be shown immediately to the room where the producer is sifting the questions . From 7.30pm onwards, a senior member of BBC staff will welcome the audience and talk to them further and, sometimes, invite questions about general matters of BBC policy. The panel will arrive at the hall around 7.40pm (see point number 6. PANEL below). They ask you to provide a steward to show them to the room where they will wait until needed on stage . At 7.50pm the producer will come on stage to call forward the selected questioners; she will then introduce the panel and chairman. After a brief warm up question, the programme goes on air at 8.02 pm following the 8pm Radio 4 News bulletin.

6. PANEL

We organise a pre-programme hospitality for the panellists at a nearby hotel or restaurant, before having them brought to the venue at around 7.40pm .

We will let you know the exact pre-programme arrangements nearer the time.

7. COSTS

The BBC will pay a nominal charge of £100.00 for use of the hall and administrational costs. Please sign the contract , which is either enclosed with this pack or will arrive shortly, and return to the address at the bottom on the contract, along with a photocopy of your Public Liability Insurance (current notice NOT a renewal schedule).

We occasionally pay for advertisements should they be necessary and any necessary hire of additional chairs. If, after discussion, this is necessary, you are asked to make the arrangements and have the account sent to the BBC. Again, all expenditure must be authorised in advance by the Producer. No charge is to be made for admission.

8. STEWARDS ON THE NIGHT

We ask you to provide a small team of stewards to help supervise several requirements on the evening of the broadcast. Their duties should include: guiding and seating the audience, monitoring parking arrangements (see 9 CAR PARKING below), and helping to collect questions at the door.

After 6.45 pm one of the stewards should act as a runner to carry the questions in batches to the room ('production office') where the Producer and Broadcast Assistant are working quickly to sort them.

9. HEALTH & SAFETY

For Health & Safety reasons, they ask that one trained First Aider and a suitably equipped First Aid box should be on site while the audience is present.

The location of all fire exits together with evacuation procedures will be checked with you on the day when they meet on site. (It is normal for these to be indicated to the audience before the programme begins.)

We also need to be aware of what disabled access your venue provides.

10. CAR PARKING

A minimum of three and a maximum of eight car parking spaces should be reserved for the panellists , the Producer and Chairman - the exact numbers will be confirmed on the afternoon of the broadcast.

The broadcast van also needs a space, and if they are using a satellite to transmit the programme, the second van carrying it will need a parking space of its own next to the main OB van.

11. NUMBER OF SEATS & INSURANCE COVER

As I mentioned during their telephone conversation, the number of seats in the hall must comply with local fire regulations and with your hall's public liability insurance.

12. HOSPITALITY

If, after the programme, you and your organisation would like to provide some hospitality (by which they recommend nothing more than light refreshments) for the panel, the chairman and the production team, they would be delighted to join you. There would be a maximum of 8 of us in all, including the panellists.

AND FINALLYWe are aware of how much effort and time you are giving to this event and want to stress they are on hand to help you at any point if you have any questions or concerns. Please don't hesitate to ring me on 07711 019 883 or call the Any Questions? Broadcast Assistant on 020-7765-5609. You could also try the programme's mobile phone which is 07711-019-883.

Thank you in advance for all your help and co-operation.

Regards Anne PeacockProducer, Any Questions?

Best Online Hearing Tests Of 2023, According To Audiologists

Experts agree online hearing tests should be considered screening tools and not replacements for comprehensive hearing tests performed by an audiologist or hearing health specialist.

“The most successful hearing screenings are based on research that includes thousands of audiograms to provide accurate results,” says Dr. Sarow. “When the user follows the directions for the test, the results of an online hearing screening, in most cases, are an accurate indicator of whether a test taker has some hearing impairment,” she adds.

“If you take an online healing test and pass, then you likely don’t have hearing loss,” adds Dr. Cherukuri. “But if you don’t pass, you should get an in-person hearing test—most of which are free or covered by insurance.”

“The hearing tests recommended [by Forbes Health] have been validated by researchers and are decently accurate and very safe,” says Dr. Bilodeau. “However, this doesn’t rule out all possible variations with different devices and headphones. If you’re concerned about your results from an online hearing test, consult an audiologist near you for a full diagnostic evaluation.

4 Best At-Home Herpes Tests for 2023

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At-home herpes tests are a convenient way to test for this common infection. Here, learn about the best companies to get tests from and read their editor’s review of one of the tests we’ve chosen.

This article discusses the different types of at-home herpes tests available and some advantages and disadvantages. It also lists a selection of at-home herpes tests that people can consider.

Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.

All quotes are provided by a Medical News Today Editor, Lois Zoppi, who received a free herpes test from LetsGetChecked to review.

*Price is accurate as of the date of publication.

The LetsGetChecked home kits can test for both HSV-1 and HSV-2. This test kit may be best for people who require regular testing as the company’s subscription options can offer significant discounts.

A person receives a collection kit with all the tools they need to collect their samples at home. This includes needles, a prepaid envelope, alcohol swabs, and a tube. The tests come in discreet packaging so that other people will not know what the person has received.

The person also has access to an instruction video on the company website explaining how to take their test. LetsGetChecked suggests that people take a blood sample before 9 a.m. and return it to the laboratory on the same day.

The company states that it issues the results within 2–5 days.

Individuals who receive a positive result can contact a nurse through the company, and they may suggest a treatment plan.

LetsGetChecked offers a one-time purchase for $119. Anyone who requires regular testing can purchase a LetsGetChecked subscription and get discounts on its tests. For instance, a 3-monthly subscription will give a person a 30% saving on the cost of the kits.

Learn more about LetsGetChecked.

“I would recommend this product to MNT readers. It’s an easily-accessible way to access tests that allow you to gain insight into your health.

“I haven’t used online health testing before, but I was really impressed by how simple the whole process was. Testing was easy and relatively pain-free, and my results came quickly.

“However, I would have liked more detail in my reports, and the cost of the tests is prohibitive for people on a tight budget.”

— Lois Zoppi, MNT Editor

“I would recommend this product to MNT readers. It’s an easily-accessible way to access tests that allow you to gain insight into your health.

“I haven’t used online health testing before, but I was really impressed by how simple the whole process was. Testing was easy and relatively pain-free, and my results came quickly.

“However, I would have liked more detail in my reports, and the cost of the tests is prohibitive for people on a tight budget.”

— Lois Zoppi, MNT Editor

*Price is accurate as of the date of publication.

People can order at-home herpes tests from MyLAB Box. These kits contain instructions, a specimen bag, and a prepaid return envelope. Users may find this test convenient because of its quick turnaround for results and the option to book a free consultation and get treatment.

It is also one of the more affordable tests available online.

Once a person receives their collection kit, they can collect their sample using the instructions. They can then use the prepaid envelope to send it to the laboratory.

People should receive their results within 2–5 days. If the test is positive, they can book a free consultation with a doctor to discuss their results and treatment options. The doctor may then prescribe treatment.

This at-home test only works for people who wish to test for genital herpes. The company does not offer test kits for oral herpes.

The kit costs $89 as a stand-alone test, but the company also markets other kits that test for different infections. For example, if a person also wishes to test for other STIs, they can purchase the Total Box – 14 Panel option or the Uber Box – 8 Panel option.

*Price is accurate as of the date of publication.

STDCheck offers tests for both HSV-1 and HSV-2. A person can order an HSV-2 test for $45. There is also an option to order a test package that tests for 10 different STIs.

This option is best for people who need their results quickly.

To order a test, a person must enter their ZIP code on the company website to find their nearest testing center. The company claims it has over 4,500 test centers nationwide, making them a convenient option for most people.

A person needs to attend their local test center for a blood test. They should then receive their online results within 1–2 days. Anyone who receives a positive result is eligible for a phone consultation with a STDCheck doctor. The doctor may prescribe treatments at their discretion.

*Price is accurate as of the date of publication.

Priority STD offers three lab-based herpes detection tests: A standard herpes test, costing $99, and a herpes early detection test, costing $189. The latter can detect the presence of the herpes simplex virus as early as 10 days after exposure.

This may be suitable for people who would prefer to quickly seek diagnosis and treatment for herpes.

To order either herpes test, a person must access the company website and enter their ZIP code to find their nearest testing center.

The company claims it has over 4,000 private test centers across the United States.

After ordering the herpes test, a person can walk into their local center to receive the testing. An appointment is not necessary.

The test procedure involves a simple blood test and urine sample, which typically takes minutes. A person can expect to receive their online test results within 1–3 days.

In the event of a positive result, a person can have a phone consultation with a partner physician, who may prescribe treatment at an additional cost of $65.

The table below compares the six at-home herpes tests for cost, follow-up care, and more.

People considering buying a home test may seek advice from a pharmacist on which test is likely to be best for them. The pharmacist may also be able to show them how to collect the sample at home to prevent inaccuracies.

People who are looking for an at-home herpes test should consider the following before making a purchase:

At-home and in-person tests screen for the herpes simplex virus and will return either a positive, negative, or inconclusive result.

At-home tests require a person to collect the sample themselves. These samples may include urine, mouth or genital swab, or a blood sample.

While at-home tests may be more convenient for those uncomfortable discussing their sexual history with others, or those who cannot easily access healthcare, there are some risks. If a person does not collect the sample correctly, they may receive an inconclusive or incorrect test result.

Some at-home tests involve ordering a test online and visiting a lab so that a technician can collect the sample. This may be a good middle ground between true at-home tests and tests from a clinic for those who prefer not to discuss their sexual health with their doctor.

Samples taken by lab technicians and healthcare professionals are more likely to be valid. These professionals have had training and are more likely to take the sample correctly.

Another difference between at-home and in-person tests is that companies offering at-home testing may not offer follow-up advice. On the other hand, healthcare professionals from a clinic can provide people with resources, treatment, and prevention tips.

Herpes is an infection with the herpes simplex virus (HSV). The virus spreads through contact with moist areas of the skin, such as the mouth and genitals.

Tests can make people aware that they have the virus, encouraging them to take steps to reduce the likelihood of passing it to others.

The World Health Organization (WHO) categorizes HSV into two types: HSV-1 and HSV-2.

HSV-1 causes oral herpes, which may develop after exposure to the virus in saliva or on skin surfaces. Many people do not experience symptoms; some develop the virus from nonsexual contact during childhood. Sometimes, HSV-1 can also cause genital herpes through oral sex.

Learn more about what herpes looks like.

HSV-2 causes genital herpes, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that affects more than 1 in 6 people ages 14–49 years in the United States.

Some at-home tests may check for just one type of HSV, whereas others may test for both types.

The CDC states that more than 1 in 6 people in the U.S. ages 14–49 years have genital herpes.

Herpes spreads through oral, anal, and vaginal sex. People can reduce the risk of transmitting herpes to another person by using condoms or dental dams during sex and avoiding having sex when they are experiencing an outbreak of herpes.

The CDC recommends herpes testing only for people who experience symptoms. Herpes can produce blisters on and around the genitals, mouth, or rectum. One reason for this is that false-positive results are possible.

Learn more about how long it takes for herpes symptoms to show.

People who have active herpes lesions can undergo a swab test. However, if the lesion is small or has started healing, there might not be enough virus for the test to detect. Due to this, there is also a risk of a false-negative result.

Healthcare professionals may be able to diagnose a person with herpes if they present with blisters and sores. Doctors may also swab sores or blisters that have not yet healed and send the samples to a lab for tests.

Anyone who thinks they might have had exposure to HSV and wants to take a test for reassurance despite a lack of symptoms will need to test for antibodies in the blood instead.

According to the American Sexual Health Association, people should wait 12–16 weeks from the time of sexual contact before taking a test. The test checks whether or not the body has developed antibodies for HSV-1 or HSV-2, which may take some time to become detectable after exposure.

People who are sexually active or share needles with others may require regular testing.

Individuals with partners with herpes and who do not use barrier methods such as condoms each time they engage in sexual activity should also test for herpes regularly.

Some people may prefer to order their at-home tests from online providers since this does not require them to leave their homes.

A 2020 study notes that at-home kits may also benefit those who may not access routine healthcare.

There are two types of home tests: self-collection and laboratory-based.

After purchasing a test collection kit from an online provider, individuals receive all the tools they need to perform the test at home. They collect a sample by following the instructions in the kit and then return it to the company or its laboratory for analysis.

After purchasing the test from an online provider, the person receives a laboratory requisition form, which they present at a testing site. A healthcare professional takes the required sample, and the individual receives their result within a few days.

HSV-1 or HSV-2 test results may be negative or positive. These results depend on the type of test people take.

False results can occur with many diagnostic herpes tests. Herpes tests are not as exact as tests for other STIs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea.

A research review on the diagnosis of HSV-1 and HSV-2 concludes that using blood tests to diagnose genital herpes may be inappropriate because positive results may be due to chronic infection, whereas negative results may overlook recent infection.

According to the American Sexual Health Association, other viruses carried by the person in their blood may cross-react with the herpes virus, causing a false positive herpes result. These viruses include the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) which causes chickenpox or cytomegalovirus (CMV).

Other factors which may determine the correct outcome of a herpes test result include sample preparation and the stage of infection of the sample.

Four types of tests can confirm the presence of the HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection. These are:

This is also known as a viral DNA test or HSV DNA test. The healthcare practitioner examines the sore sample to look for the DNA of HSV-1 and HSV-2 to determine which virus is causing the person’s infection.

These tests are 99% accurate and are regarded as the gold standard of testing by healthcare practitioners in advanced HIV infections.

A healthcare practitioner collects a sample from the person’s skin sore and sends it to a laboratory to see if the virus grows. This type of test is useful early in an outbreak when the sore is open.

A positive result indicates that the person has an HSV infection. This may be an initial outbreak or a recurring one.

A negative result indicates that the test sample did not contain HSV. A negative result does not always mean that the person is free from the herpes virus. For example, a false negative may occur if the lesion is small or has started to heal.

A healthcare practitioner scrapes cells from the person’s sore to look for characteristics of herpes infection. A clinician examines the cells at the doctor’s office. There is no need to send the sample to a laboratory.

A positive result indicates the person has an infection. A negative result indicates that they do not have a herpes infection.

Herpes simplex antibody tests determine the presence of the HSV-1 or HSV-2 virus. A clinician detects these antibodies in the person’s blood or sore sample.

A positive result means that the person has HSV antibodies or had an outbreak or past infection. A negative result indicates that the person does not have the virus.

Before ordering a sample collection kit, people should consider the advantages and disadvantages of using at-home herpes tests. These include:

Anyone who has sexual contact with someone who has received a herpes diagnosis should contact a doctor as soon as possible.

People who have received a positive test result may also wish to consider seeking medical advice.

Currently, herpes is not curable, but doctors can prescribe medications to reduce the frequency and severity of the symptoms. This may help lower the chance of the infection spreading to other individuals.

Below are some common questions about at-home herpes tests.

Yes, it is possible to test for herpes at home. LetsGetChecked, STDCheck, and MyLAB Box all sell at-home herpes tests online. While at-home herpes tests are easy to complete and convenient to use, there is a risk of user error if a person is not used to taking herpes tests themselves.

Herpes tends to cause soft blisters that are filled with fluid.

Initial genital herpes symptoms in females include flu-like symptoms, swollen glands, painful genitals, and unusual discharge.

Early oral herpes symptoms may include flu-like symptoms, headaches, and sore lesions in and around the mouth.

Learn more about herpes in females.

Many people who have herpes do not have any symptoms at all. Additionally, if a person has herpes symptoms they can still be mistaken for something else. For example, herpes sores may look like pimples or ingrown hairs. Since herpes sores can look like blisters, they can also be mistaken for skin condition symptoms, such as dermatitis.

Learn more about what herpes sores look like.

The CDC recommends that only people who have symptoms of herpes undergo testing. Possible symptoms include blisters around the anus, genitals, or mouth that burst and leave painful sores. The CDC also recommends testing if a person experiences what could be a herpes outbreak.

A person can ask for a herpes test at any sexual health clinic or a doctor’s office. A healthcare professional will either swab a blister or draw a blood sample. A person can opt for at-home herpes tests, which typically require a blood sample through a finger prick.

Once a person receives their test results, they should contact a doctor to discuss treatment options, if necessary.

Learn more about medications for herpes.

At-home herpes tests may be the preferred option for people who feel uncomfortable discussing their sexual health with a doctor and those who are unable to visit a healthcare facility.

Many companies sell at-home tests. Before purchasing a test, an individual may wish to compare the costs, how long it takes the companies to issue the results, and their instructions for collecting the sample.

Some people may have difficulty collecting their samples at home and interpreting the test results. Some companies may only offer consultations to individuals who receive a positive test.

There are different types of herpes tests a person may wish to take. People should take into consideration that any test has room for error, and those who receive a positive herpes test result should contact a doctor to discuss treatment options or a follow-up test.