Accurate blood tests
There are currently four FDA-approved, gG-based blood tests that can give accurate results for herpes. Like any blood test, these tests cannot determine whether the site of infection is oral or genital. However, since most cases of genital herpes are caused by HSV-2, a positive result for type-2 antibodies most likely indicates genital herpes.
It may be necessary to request on of these tests by name from your health care provider. These accurate, type-specific tests are:
- biokitHSV-2 Rapid Test
- HerpeSelect® HSV-1 and HSV-2 tests
- Herpes Western blot
- CAPTIA™ HSV IgG Type-Specific ELISAs
The biokitHSV-2 Rapid Test (manufactured by biokit USA) is a blood test that can be done in a doctor's office and provides results for HSV-2 in less than 10 minutes. For more information on the biokitHSV-2 Rapid Test, please have your health care provider call 1-800-926-3353 or log on towww.biokitusa.com. This test is also available under the name Sure-Vue™ HSV-2 Rapid Test from Fisher HealthCare. For more information on the Sure-Vue™ HSV-2 Rapid Test, please have your health care provider call 1-800-766-7000 or log on to www.fishersci.com.
There are two blood tests manufactured by Focus Diagnostics, Inc. under the name HerpeSelect®: the ELISA and the Immunoblot. Both of these tests require blood to be drawn by your health care provider and sent off to a lab that carries HerpeSelect® for results. If you are interested in HerpeSelect®, you can log on to www.herpeselect.com or call 1-800-505-0536.
The Herpes Western blot can also accurately distinguish between HSV-1and HSV-2. However, this test is primarily used for research purposes and is not readily available. If you are interested in the Herpes Western blot, your doctor will need to call the University of Washington in Seattle, WA at 1-206-598-6066 to order the test.
The CAPTIA™ HSV IgG Type Specific ELISAs can detect HSV-1 and/or HSV-2 antibodies. Blood drawn by your health care provider will be sent to a lab for results. For more information, have your health care provider contact the manufacturer, Trinity Biotech USA, at 1-800-325-3424 or log on to www.trinitybiotech.com.
Accurate Blood Test Quick Reference Guide
We have created the Blood Test Quick Reference Guide, a chart that outlines and compares the accurate, FDA-approved type-specific blood tests available for herpes simplex antibodies. To determine which test might be best for your situation - or to show your doctor which tests are available (since herpes is not routinely included in STD screenings), click here for our BLOOD TEST QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE (PDF, 108K).
For healthcare providers, we've developed the Herpes Testing Toolkit, which was reviewed by leading experts in this field. The 10-page guide explains the increasing role of type-specific herpes serologic assays, presents clinical scenarios in which serologic testing are beneficial, and reviews key factors in a differential diagnosis for genital herpes. To learn more about the toolkit, click here.>>
http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_testing.cfm