I new to this and i just found out on 5/22/08 that i have herpes and i was expose to it 12-13 years ago, so yes it is possible to have it for a long time and not no because it is dormant in your system some take maybe months to find out and others take year like us to find out. And nine times out of ten your partner will have it. I been with my financee for 11 years and he goes to get tested on this friday and we both no the outcome to it he will definetly test positve for the virus herpes.