Special Instructions

The test requires serum as a specimen, with a preferred volume of 2.0 mL. It can be stored in a red-top tube or gel barrier tube and should be refrigerated until testing. Hemolysis, lipemia, grossly icteric samples, visible particulate matter, and gross bacterial contamination are causes for rejection.

Limitations

Serum samples collected too early in the course of infection may not have detectable levels of HSV IgG. In cases of suspected early disease, a repeat serum specimen should be collected 14-21 days later and submitted for testing. The predictive value of positive or negative results depends on the prevalence of disease and the pretest likelihood of HSV-1 and HSV-2. False-positive results may occur. Repeat testing, or testing by a different method, may be indicated in some settings (e.g., patients with low likelihood of HSV infection). This test is intended for qualitative determination only. The magnitude of the Index Value is not indicative of the amount of antibody present in the patient sample.

Biomarkers

LOINC Codes

Result Turnaround Time

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