| New Type-Specific
Blood Tests for Herpes Approved by FDA The summer of 1999
brought several new testing options for people
concerned about herpes simplex virus (HSV). In
July, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
approved two tests from Meridian Diagnostics, one
for HSV-1 and the other for HSV-2. In August, the
FDA approved Diagnology's POCkitŪ HSV-2 Rapid
Test.
Blood tests are
often used when a person has concerns about
herpes, but does not have any visible symptoms.
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 or
"mono") for herpes simplex (Types 1 and
2) antibodies.
These new tests
are revolutionary in that they are extremely
accurate and rarely confuse herpes simplex with
other herpes viruses.
While both of
these blood tests are type-specific tests, they
are administered in two completely different ways.
With Meridian's PremierŪ test, the health care
provider takes a blood sample from the arm and
the blood is sent to the lab for results. Results
could take a few days depending on how fast the
lab can do the test. The POC in Diagnology's
POCkit stands for point of care, which means the
test can be done in a doctor's office. Your
doctor will stick your finger, drop the blood
into the test kit and six minutes later read the
results.
Like all blood
tests, the POCkit test and the Premier test
cannot determine whether the HSV infection is
oral or genital. However, since most cases of
genital herpes are caused by HSV-2, a positive
Type 2 result most likely indicates a genital
infection. For more information about the POCkit
test, your healthcare provider can contact the
test's manufacturer: Diagnology at (877) 776-2548.
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