Alethia® HSV 1&2
Molecular assay for the detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 & 2. Alethia provides a quick, accurate and reliable molecular assay for HSV 1&2 detection.
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What are the drawbacks of traditional methods?
- Viral culture: has a low sensitivity, especially for recurrent lesions, and declines rapidly as lesions begin to heal. This test method may take up to 7 days.
- Cytology: is an insensitive and nonspecific method of diagnosis that can be quite time consuming for genital lesions and therefore should not be relied on.
- Type-specific serology: type-specific glycoprotein G (gG)- based serologic assays should only be requested. False negative results might be more frequent at early stages of infection and this test method does not indicate an active infection.
How should I handle an immunocompromised patient with suspected skin lesions?
The CDC guidelines recommend that the clinical diagnosis of genital herpes be confirmed by type-specific laboratory testing. Mucocutaneous manifestations of HSV-2 may have an atypical location or appearance which makes it important to perform a differential diagnosis of HSV-2 lesions including ulcerative sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, chancroid, staphylococcal and other bacterial infections, pyoderma gangrenosum, squamous cell carcinoma and Behcet’s disease.
How should I diagnose a neonate with suspected HSV infection?
AAP indicates that the majority of infants (~73%) with HSV infection have lesions. Without lesions, the diagnosis of neonatal HSV infection is difficult. Swab specimens from cutaneous and mucocutaneous lesions should be tested before CSF and whole blood.
How should I handle a patient with skin lesions?
The CDC guidelines recommend that the clinical diagnosis of genital herpes be confirmed by type-specific laboratory testing.
The CDC recommends that all pregnant women be asked if they have a history of genital herpes, questioned carefully about symptoms of genital herpes at the onset of labor and examined carefully for herpetic lesions.2
What are the manifestations of HSV in a newborn?
AAP states that:
- 25% of infected infants have disseminated disease involving multiple organs
- 30% of infected infants have localized central nervous system disease (CNS)
- 45% of infected infants have disease localized to the skin, eyes and/or mouth (SEM disease)
What is Suggested CPT Code?
HSV 1 – 87529
HSV 2 – 87529-59
References:
1 Alethia HSV 1&2 Package Insert, SN11028.
2. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2015. MMWR 2015:64
3. American Academy of Pediatrics. 2015 Report of the Committee on Infectious Disease. Red Book, 30th Edition. Herpes Simplex p. 432-445. https://redbook.solutions.aap.org/chapter.aspx?sectionid=88187163&bookid=1484
“Sending testing out greatly increases the number of errors and complaints from our customers. By bringing in HSV 1&2 we were able to eliminate these complaints to provide better customer service.”
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