Western blot herpes test
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"There still is a segment of the medical community who may be in the learning process," says Marlene Jinks, company spokeswoman. Both are developed for use in the clinical laboratory setting. The company received FDA clearance in July 1999 for its Premier Type-Specific HSV-1 IgG ELISA Test and Premier Type-Specific HSV-2 IgG ELISA Test, which distinguish HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections Meridian Diagnostics of Cincinnati offers two diagnostic tests for the herpes simplex virus. Discounts are available for publicly funded clinics and other facilities that likely would use a high volume of tests such companies are encouraged to contact the company for a formal quote. The list price of the POCkit HSV-2 Rapid Test is $290 per tower of five kits for a per-kit cost of $58, Zietlow says. "We receive many calls daily from patients wanting the test and asking for local clinics or physicians whom they can contact." "The accuracy and being able to get results immediately have greatly benefited many people," he notes. Response from patients has been "overwhelmingly positive," says Zietlow. The test can be performed in the office from a simple fingerstick, with 10-minute results allowing the clinician to begin herpes management immediately, regardless of the symptoms. market, it is manufactured by Diagnology in Research Triangle Park, NC.Ī patient with genital symptoms such as lesions, rashes, or other irritation or with a high-risk sexual history can be tested rapidly and accurately for HSV-2 infection with the POCkit test, says Tom Zietlow, director of technical affairs at Diagnology. The POCkit HSV-2 Rapid Test, the first point-of-care test for the specific detection of antibodies to the HSV-2 virus, received Food and Drug Administration approval in August 1999. While it is commercially available from several sites, its cost ($80 to $100) has limited its use. The Western blot, developed by researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle, continues as the current gold standard for the diagnosis of herpes antibodies. The new tests offer improved sensitivity and specificity. In the past, type-specific blood tests were not always accurate because they confused other herpes virus antibodies such as varicella zoster (chicken pox) and Epstein Barr (mononucleosis) for herpes simplex (types 1 and 2) antibodies.
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Providers often use serologic tests when patients are at risk for the disease but don't have visible symptoms. "One in four people is positive for herpes, so it seems like if we're not taking advantage of the new serologic testing that is available that is type-specific, then we are really missing the boat." "We can do syphilis tests all day long and never come up with a positive we haven't had a positive in six years now," Warren says. Given the increasing prevalence of infection and the increased availability of testing, there is no excuse for not offering serologic testing, says Terri Warren, RN, MS, owner of Westover Heights Clinic in Portland, OR, and medical director of ASHA's Portland herpes support group. The most serious risk is the transmission of virus from infected mother to infant during birth, resulting in death or permanent impairment. The American Social Health Association (ASHA) in Research Triangle Park, NC, reports an estimated 25% of U.S. Testing options for herpes simplex virus (HSV) have expanded in the United States, with three companies now offering new diagnostic methods. STD Quarterly-Get a handle on herpes with these new tests