Dear PPao,
There's only one lab in the world that runs Western Blot HSV tests: The University of Washington Virology Lab in Seattle, WA USA. Their website is http://depts.washington.edu/rspvirus/ where they describe the process for packing, shipping, etc from within the US. That will give you some idea of what’s involved (cost, turn-around time for results, etc). They also list a community service lab contact phone number to help doctors or clinics in the US get their questions answered about ordering the test from out of state. However, I think you would find it impossible to have blood shipped from overseas for a test such as this: bio-hazardous materials, customs, etc. The cost alone would be ridiculous.
Even within the US this test is significantly more expensive than other options, & US insurance policies & billing practices vary remarkably, & so consumers sometimes are surprised to get caught paying the bill out of pocket (if their insurer doesn't cover it, or all of it, or it gets counted as their deductible, or co-pay, etc). So the 92% accuracy available from a cheaper test available in your own country, or getting the cheaper test on 2 separate occasions might be an alternative one could consider - over the more expensive WB test with its 98 - 99% accuracy.
While it would probably be possible while traveling in the UW to go to a private health clinic or STD clinic that is familiar with ordering Western Blots, & where they would draw your blood & ship it to Seattle - & bill you for all the costs – which would likely be in the hundreds of dollars. However, we are not a clinic that does this on request. We are a research clinic & therefore only enroll local subjects who are engaged in studies that we ourselves conduct.
But I’m wondering why someone would go to all this trouble & expense. I would recommend you speak with your health care providers about other tests such as IgG, ELISA or HerpeSelect that are probably available in your own country to test for herpes.
Hope this helps. Best wishes,
Mike S, ARNP
HSV Research Clinician
