Eurofins Biomnis code

HERBM

Synonyms

• HSV-1
• HSV
• HSV 1 and HSV 2

Clinic significance

Herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) belong to the Herpesviridae family and have a DNA genome. The herpes virus has the particularity of persisting in a latent state in the body and reactivating episodically.
There are two antigenic types of HSV: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Transmission is between humans, mainly through direct, close contact via secretions or infected mucous membranes (maximum risk of transmission when lesions are progressive). Human-to-human transmission most often occurs via saliva, during contact with lesions, unprotected sex or childbirth.
Broadly speaking, HSV-1 is responsible for oral/labial herpes and HSV-2 for genital herpes. However, it is not uncommon to find HSV-1 in genital herpes (more than 1/3 of primary genital herpes infections are due to HSV-1 in Western countries). Cases of neonatal herpes, whether due to HSV-1 or HSV-2, can be transmitted during the in utero phase, the perinatal period or post-partum. Primary genital herpes infection in pregnant women at the end of pregnancy is a cause for concern, as the newborn may be contaminated at the time of delivery and present a very serious disseminated infection.
HSVs have a tropism for the skin (vesicular eruption) and mucous membranes (gingivostomatitis, genital herpes), the eye (conjunctiva and keratitis) and the central nervous system (meningitis, meningoencephalitis). HSV-1 is the most common cause of herpetic encephalitis. In case of clinical suspicion of herpetic encephalitis, it is essential to start treatment with aciclovir as a matter of urgency and to test the CSF for viral DNA using PCR. Herpes infections can be serious in immunocompromised patients, who may present with a haemorrhagic form with disseminated intravascular coagulation, pneumopathy, hepatitis or meningoencephalitis.
Testing for viral DNA by PCR is mainly recommended in cases of primary genital infection in pregnant women or in cases of mucocutaneous lesions during childbirth, ocular disorders (retinitis, kerato-conjunctivitis, uveitis), clinical suspicion of meningoencephalitis, visceral disorders (immunocompromised patients in intensive care), and in newborns in situations where there is a risk of neonatal herpes.

Prenalytics

• Mucocutaneous, genital, ocular, nasopharyngeal swabs, respiratory samples (bronchial aspirations, BAL), puncture fluids, digestive and liver biopsies, CSF Whole blood, serum or plasma for neonates and immunocompromised/resuscitated patients
• Refrigerated

Further information

• The use of the S14UK transport bag is Mandatory.
• Samples (other than swabs) must be sent as they are, in sterile bottles, without transport medium.
• Swab samples require the use of a transport medium (viral) supplied in kit K1.
• .
• The following samples are not accepted: placenta, umbilical cord or any other sample of foetal origin (except blood).

Specific equipment available

K1: Virus screening kit by culture or PCR

Documents to download

• information note (N23-INTGB)

Methodology

Real-time PCR

Turnaround time

1 day