Preferred Specimen(s) 1 mL serum
Instructions Separate serum from cells as soon as possible
Transport Container No additive (red-top) tube
Transport Temperature
- Refrigerated 4 days,
- -20oC Long term
Reject Criteria Grossly Hemolysed
Methodology ELISA
Clinical Significance Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is responsible for several clinically significant human viral diseases, with severity ranging from inapparent to fatal. Clinical manifestations include genital tract infections, neonatal herpes,meningo-encephalitis, keratoconjunctivitis, and gingivostomatitis. There are two types of HSV serotypes that are closely related antigenically. HSV type 2 is more commonly associated with genital tract and neonatal infections, while HSV Type 1 is more commonly associated with infections of non-genital sites. Specific typing is not usually required for diagnosis or treatment. The mean time to seroconversion using the type specific assay is 25 days. The performance of this assay has not been established for use in a pediatric population, for neonatal screening, or for testing of immuno-compromised patients.