The herpes virus is something that goes by many different names while its formal names are just the Herpes Simplex Virus, Types one and two or HSV1, HSV2    . You might also hear it referred to as:

• Herpes culture
• Herpes simplex viral culture
• HSV DNA
• HHV1
• HHV2
• More

Herpes Testing

Testing for herpes is done to detect the presence of herpes simplex with those people that have genital sores, babies thought to have neonatal herpes, encephalitis or outbreaks in other areas. Neonatal herpes is rare but is a very serious condition where herpes is contracted by the newborn during birth. A woman that is pregnant and has herpes should be monitored often before delivery to make sure that the infection isn’t reactivated and given to the newborn during birth. In order to eliminate the risk of spread it’s likely a C-Section will be done.

The principal testing methods for the herpes simplex virus are the herpes culture and the HSV DNA testing. While it’s not as sensitive the antibody testing for HSV is able to be used in order to help diagnose a more acute infection. This is done through blood sample collection of both acute and convalescent samples. The acute sample is done first and then the convalescent sample is done several weeks afterward. The antibody levels are then compared to be able to see how far they’ve risen which would be indicative of a current infection.

Herpes Test Ordering

Herpes cultures are ordered usually when the patient is showing either a vesicle or blister on the genitals. The HSV DNA testing is done with the patient has encephalitis and the doctor believes that it might be caused by a virus.

HSV testing for pregnant women are going to be ordered regularly and the newborn and the mother will be tested when the newborn shows signs of infection like lesions on the skin or meningitis.

The antibody testing for HSV is going to be ordered most often when the patient is being screened for prior exposure to HSV. At some points convalescent and acute antibody HSV testing would be ordered when there are thought of a current infection.

Meaning of Results

When you get a positive result through one of the tests will indicate that you have a current HSV1 or HSV2 infection. Receiving a negative test is going to indicate that the virus wasn’t isolated but it doesn’t definitively rule out that the virus is present. The reason for this is that is that the specimen might not have taken in a portion of the blood that contains an active replication of the virus or if the sample wasn’t transported correctly. Also there could be no detectable viable virus which could result in a false negative.

The presence of the antibodies would indicate an active or more recent infection. With a significant increase of antibodies through the comparison of convalescent and acute samples is what helps to show that. Negative HSV antibodies mean that it’s highly unlikely that the person has been exposed to HSV. It could also mean that the body simply hasn’t had the time yet to produce the HSV antibodies.

Additional Information to Know

The potentially life threatening or most serious of the infections are those that occur in newborns that are infected during the birthing process. The other group would be those individuals that are immune-compromised. The lesions are going to usually be longer in length and more extensive than those people that have a health immune system.

Also herpes is able to make a person more susceptible to getting the HIV virus. Also it can make those that are infected with HIV more infectious. For someone that is infected with HIV it can increase the diseases viral load. The HSV2 is a very significantly opportunistic infection in those that are afflicted with HIV. Almost 90% of the people that have HIV also have a co infection of HSV2.

Finally, HSV in concert with HPV infection has been associated to higher risks of the development of cervical cancer.