Medical Diagnosis - Herpes Simplex 2 IgG (HSV-2)

Medical Diagnosis is a private clinical pathology laboratory based in North London, close to Wembley Stadium, that provides a wide range of direct laboratory-to-client services to both healthcare professionals and the public.

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Herpes Simplex 2 IgG (HSV-2)

£24.00

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by HSV-1 and HSV-2, ubiquitous double-stranded neurotropic DNA viruses of the Herpesviridae family. Following primary infection via secretions, the virus persists lifelong.

The virus may remain latent for a prolonged time or cause recurrent episodes of reactivated symptomatic disease; the number of recurrences tends to decrease over a period of years. Most genital herpes infections are caused by HSV-2. HSV-1 can cause genital herpes, but it more commonly causes infections of the mouth and lips.

Transmission of genital herpes is commonly caused by individuals that are unaware of their infections, or those with asymptomatic infections. Pre- or perinatal transmission of HSV to the neonate may result in severe disease or even death.

Transmission of HSV‑1 and HSV‑2 depends on intimate, personal contact between a seronegative individual and someone excreting the virus. Infection with HSV‑1 and HSV‑2 can produce a wide spectrum of symptoms, e.g. mucous membrane and skin lesions and ocular, visceral, and central nervous system (CNS) disease.

In immunosuppressed patients HSV infection can be associated with severe and extensive lesions. Although HSV‑1 and HSV‑2 are usually transmitted by different routes and involve different areas of the body, much overlap is seen between the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of these two viruses.

HSV infection is frequently not recognized. Subclinical viral shedding and unrecognized infections seem to be major factors in transmission. Genital HSV infection is frequently not recognized and diagnosis based on the clinical presentation alone has a low sensitivity.

Serologic tests have been recommended for pregnant women as well as for asymptomatic patients and patients at risk of HIV infection. Type‑specific serologic tests allow the identification of silent carriers of HSV‑2 infection in patients with or without pre‑existing antibodies to HSV‑1.

Test Status: Referral laboratory
Samples required: 1
  • Blood Sample
Results in: 2-5 working days

There is an additional £15 phlebotomy fee for every donation.

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