{"id":4434,"date":"2021-09-15T15:39:57","date_gmt":"2021-09-15T03:39:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.awanuilabs.co.nz\/central\/wellington\/?page_id=4434"},"modified":"2025-05-05T14:13:26","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T02:13:26","slug":"herpes-simplex-virus-hsv","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.awanuilabs.co.nz\/central\/wellington\/for-referrers\/microbiology\/how-do-i-diagnose\/herpes-simplex-virus-hsv\/","title":{"rendered":"Herpes Simplex virus (HSV)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Infection:<\/strong> Herpes; herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-accordion ab-block-accordion\"><details><summary class=\"ab-accordion-title\">Brief description:<\/summary><div class=\"ab-accordion-text\">\n<ul>\n<li>Virus that causes cold sores (HSV 1), and genital herpes (HSV 1 or 2).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Most people infected with HSV are asymptomatic and don\u2019t get recurrences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Genital herpes during pregnancy should be discussed with a specialist.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-accordion ab-block-accordion\"><details><summary class=\"ab-accordion-title\">Did you know?<\/summary><div class=\"ab-accordion-text\">\n<ul>\n<li>Genital herpes has been typically associated with HSV 2 infection, however HSV 1 is also responsible for a significant proportion of genital infection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>HSV 2 tends to recur more frequently than HSV 1, but be less severe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-accordion ab-block-accordion\"><details><summary class=\"ab-accordion-title\">Who should I test?<\/summary><div class=\"ab-accordion-text\">\n<ul>\n<li>Testing recommended for a <strong>first episode of genital herpes<\/strong> to establish the diagnosis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Testing <strong>not required<\/strong> for <strong>recurrences<\/strong> of genital herpes, or for cold sores, unless <strong>atypical features<\/strong> with a potential differential diagnosis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mimics to consider: <\/strong>syphilis if genital ulcer (although syphilis generally painless).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-accordion ab-block-accordion\"><details><summary class=\"ab-accordion-title\">Test of choice:<\/summary><div class=\"ab-accordion-text\">\n<p>Request <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/scg.labapps.nz\/#\/WEL\/details\/26769\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HSV PCR<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Viral swab of base of lesion for HSV PCR <\/strong>(need to obtain vesicle fluid or cellular material on swab)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Good<strong> sensitivity &#8211; <\/strong>a <strong>negative<\/strong> result on an<strong> adequately collected sample <\/strong>makes<strong> <\/strong>the diagnosis <strong>very unlikely<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Excellent<strong> specificity &#8211; <\/strong>a <strong>positive<\/strong> result <strong>confirms<\/strong> the diagnosis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Note: swabs run for HSV PCR in our laboratory are <strong>run for VZV PCR in parallel<\/strong>, as these viruses can mimic each other.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-accordion ab-block-accordion\"><details><summary class=\"ab-accordion-title\">Tests to avoid\/specialist tests:<\/summary><div class=\"ab-accordion-text\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/scg.labapps.nz\/#\/WEL\/details\/27161\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Serology<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Has a very limited role in the diagnosis of HSV.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Having <strong>positive HSV serology is common<\/strong> in the general population. A positive serological test <strong>cannot confirm<\/strong> that a lesion is due to HSV.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Serology usually takes <strong>many weeks<\/strong> to become positive after <strong>primary infection<\/strong>, so is not useful for diagnosis in this context.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The NZ Herpes Foundation recommend <strong>education rather than HSV serology<\/strong> in partners of positive patients due to false positive and negative results seen with HSV serology.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Serology is indicated in <strong>pregnant women<\/strong> with a possible <strong>first episode<\/strong> of genital herpes <strong>from 30 weeks gestation, <\/strong>as it helps inform prophylaxis strategies to prevent <strong>neonatal infection.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Infection: Herpes; herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"parent":4222,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-left-sidebar.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Herpes Simplex virus (HSV) &#8211; 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