{"id":9235,"date":"2024-10-08T16:20:07","date_gmt":"2024-10-08T13:20:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/?p=9235"},"modified":"2026-04-20T18:55:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T15:55:25","slug":"laboratory-detection-of-herpes-as-an-accurate-diagnosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/laboratory-detection-of-herpes-as-an-accurate-diagnosis\/","title":{"rendered":"Laboratory detection of herpes: how to accurately confirm the diagnosis"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"577\" data-end=\"628\"><strong data-start=\"580\" data-end=\"628\">Why is it important to detect herpes in the laboratory?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"630\" data-end=\"930\">Herpes is not just a rash on the lips. It is <strong data-start=\"671\" data-end=\"695\">viral disease<\/strong>, which can be asymptomatic, but at the same time be transmitted sexually, become active during a decrease in immunity, or complicate pregnancy. Most people are infected <strong data-start=\"867\" data-end=\"892\">herpes type 1 or 2<\/strong>, often without even realizing it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"932\" data-end=\"1171\">As noted <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"944\" data-end=\"985\">Mayo Clinic<\/a>, \u00abmany carriers of the herpes virus never have obvious symptoms, but can transmit it to others.\u00bb That\u2019s why <strong data-start=\"1095\" data-end=\"1170\">Laboratory diagnostics is the key to a safe life and accurate treatment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"1173\" data-end=\"1213\"><strong data-start=\"1176\" data-end=\"1213\">When is herpes diagnosis needed?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul data-start=\"1215\" data-end=\"1544\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1215\" data-end=\"1256\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1217\" data-end=\"1256\">upon suspicion of <strong data-start=\"1232\" data-end=\"1254\">genital herpes<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1257\" data-end=\"1307\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1259\" data-end=\"1307\">with frequent <strong data-start=\"1270\" data-end=\"1305\">rashes on the face or lips<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1308\" data-end=\"1352\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1310\" data-end=\"1352\">before <strong data-start=\"1316\" data-end=\"1350\">pregnancy planning or IVF<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1353\" data-end=\"1393\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1355\" data-end=\"1393\">for eye and nervous system damage<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1394\" data-end=\"1450\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1396\" data-end=\"1450\">for <strong data-start=\"1400\" data-end=\"1426\">dispensary control<\/strong> in HIV-positive individuals<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1451\" data-end=\"1544\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1453\" data-end=\"1544\">with questionable symptoms that may be masked by other dermatological or urological conditions<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1546\" data-end=\"1753\">According to <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/std\/herpes\/stdfact-herpes.htm\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"1556\" data-end=\"1612\">CDC<\/a>, more than half of genital herpes cases in the US remain undetected precisely because of the lack of testing during asymptomatic periods.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1546\" data-end=\"1753\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9237\" src=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/themes\/woodmart\/images\/lazy.svg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1304-2.jpg\" alt=\"doctor consults patient with herpes test results\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1304-2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1304-2-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1304-2-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1304-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1304-2-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"1755\" data-end=\"1811\"><strong data-start=\"1758\" data-end=\"1811\">What methods are used to detect herpes?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"1813\" data-end=\"1861\"><strong data-start=\"1817\" data-end=\"1859\">1. PCR (polymerase chain reaction)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1862\" data-end=\"1931\">The most accurate method for detecting HSV-1 virus DNA or <a href=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/analysis\/infectious-disease-panel\/herpes-virus-infection\/hsv-2-avidity-index-of-antibodies-igg\/\">HSV-2<\/a> in samples:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1933\" data-end=\"2048\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1933\" data-end=\"1954\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1935\" data-end=\"1954\">rash smears<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1955\" data-end=\"1991\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1957\" data-end=\"1991\">cervical\/urethral scrapings<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1992\" data-end=\"2012\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1994\" data-end=\"2012\">fluid from blisters<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2013\" data-end=\"2048\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2015\" data-end=\"2048\">blood (in generalized form)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2050\" data-end=\"2185\"><strong data-start=\"2050\" data-end=\"2062\">Advantages<\/strong>: high sensitivity, allows you to distinguish the type of virus<br data-start=\"2113\" data-end=\"2116\" \/><strong data-start=\"2116\" data-end=\"2133\">Recommended<\/strong> to confirm primary infection and relapses<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"2187\" data-end=\"2228\"><strong data-start=\"2191\" data-end=\"2226\">2. ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2229\" data-end=\"2288\">Research <strong data-start=\"2241\" data-end=\"2279\">IgM and IgG antibodies to HSV-1, HSV-2<\/strong> in the blood:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2290\" data-end=\"2390\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2290\" data-end=\"2343\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2292\" data-end=\"2343\"><strong data-start=\"2292\" data-end=\"2299\">IgM<\/strong> \u2014 indicates an acute or recent infection<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2344\" data-end=\"2390\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2346\" data-end=\"2390\"><strong data-start=\"2346\" data-end=\"2353\">IgG<\/strong> \u2014 shows whether a person is a carrier of the virus<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2392\" data-end=\"2544\"><strong data-start=\"2392\" data-end=\"2404\">Advantages<\/strong>: possibility to check immunity, convenient in the absence of symptoms<br data-start=\"2470\" data-end=\"2473\" \/><strong data-start=\"2473\" data-end=\"2485\">Disadvantages<\/strong>: not suitable for early diagnosis in the first days of infection<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"2546\" data-end=\"2606\"><strong data-start=\"2550\" data-end=\"2604\">3. Cultural method (virological study)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2607\" data-end=\"2763\">Inoculation of the contents of the vesicles onto a nutrient medium with subsequent identification of the virus.<br data-start=\"2686\" data-end=\"2689\" \/><strong data-start=\"2689\" data-end=\"2715\">Rarely used<\/strong>, takes a lot of time, sensitivity is lower than PCR.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"2765\" data-end=\"2808\"><strong data-start=\"2769\" data-end=\"2806\">4. Direct immunofluorescence (DIF)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2809\" data-end=\"2971\">A rapid method for detecting virus antigens in smear cells, used mainly in large laboratories.<br data-start=\"2916\" data-end=\"2919\" \/><strong data-start=\"2919\" data-end=\"2927\">Plus<\/strong>: speed<br data-start=\"2938\" data-end=\"2941\" \/><strong data-start=\"2941\" data-end=\"2950\">Minus<\/strong>: lower specificity<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"2973\" data-end=\"3038\"><strong data-start=\"2976\" data-end=\"3038\">Comparative table of laboratory methods for detecting herpes<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"pointer-events-none relative left-[50%]! flex w-[100cqw] translate-x-[-50%] justify-center *:pointer-events-auto\">\n<div class=\"tableContainer horzScrollShadows\">\n<table class=\"min-w-full\" data-start=\"3040\" data-end=\"3613\">\n<thead data-start=\"3040\" data-end=\"3133\">\n<tr data-start=\"3040\" data-end=\"3133\">\n<th data-start=\"3040\" data-end=\"3063\">Method<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"3063\" data-end=\"3081\">Detects<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"3081\" data-end=\"3102\">Sample<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"3102\" data-end=\"3115\">Sensitivity<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"3115\" data-end=\"3133\">Result time<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody data-start=\"3230\" data-end=\"3613\">\n<tr data-start=\"3230\" data-end=\"3325\">\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3230\" data-end=\"3253\">PCR<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3253\" data-end=\"3272\">HSV virus DNA<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3272\" data-end=\"3294\">smears, blood<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3294\" data-end=\"3307\">very high<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3307\" data-end=\"3325\">1\u20132 days<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"3326\" data-end=\"3421\">\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3326\" data-end=\"3349\">ELISA<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3349\" data-end=\"3368\">IgG, IgM<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3368\" data-end=\"3390\">venous blood<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3390\" data-end=\"3403\">high<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3403\" data-end=\"3421\">up to 24 hours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"3422\" data-end=\"3517\">\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3422\" data-end=\"3445\">Cultural method<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3445\" data-end=\"3464\">active virus<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3464\" data-end=\"3486\">vesicle content<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3486\" data-end=\"3499\">average<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3499\" data-end=\"3517\">3\u20135 days<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"3518\" data-end=\"3613\">\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3518\" data-end=\"3541\">DIF<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3541\" data-end=\"3560\">antigens<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3560\" data-end=\"3582\">dab<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3582\" data-end=\"3595\">average<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3595\" data-end=\"3613\">1 day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"3615\" data-end=\"3654\"><strong data-start=\"3618\" data-end=\"3654\">What international organizations say<\/strong><\/h2>\n<blockquote data-start=\"3656\" data-end=\"4148\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3658\" data-end=\"4148\">\u201cPCR analysis has become the gold standard for detecting the herpes virus in affected tissues,\u201d \u2014 <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/std\/herpes\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"3747\" data-end=\"3784\">CDC<\/a><br data-start=\"3784\" data-end=\"3787\" \/>\u201cEnzyme immunoassay allows you to determine whether a person is a chronic carrier of herpes, even without symptoms,\u201d \u2014 <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/herpes-simplex-virus\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"3896\" data-end=\"3972\">WHO<\/a><br data-start=\"3972\" data-end=\"3975\" \/>\u201cTimely laboratory diagnosis of herpes can reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to a newborn,\u201d \u2014 <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/genital-herpes\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"4072\" data-end=\"4148\">Mayo Clinic<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"4150\" data-end=\"4197\"><strong data-start=\"4153\" data-end=\"4197\">When the test gives a false negative result<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul data-start=\"4199\" data-end=\"4381\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"4199\" data-end=\"4248\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"4201\" data-end=\"4248\">if the sample is taken <strong data-start=\"4219\" data-end=\"4246\">after the rashes heal<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"4249\" data-end=\"4310\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"4251\" data-end=\"4310\">with very early infection (antibodies have not yet formed)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"4311\" data-end=\"4381\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"4313\" data-end=\"4381\">in patients with <strong data-start=\"4327\" data-end=\"4345\">immunodeficiency<\/strong>, where the body&#039;s response is slowed<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"4383\" data-end=\"4462\">That&#039;s why <strong data-start=\"4393\" data-end=\"4426\">combination of methods (PCR + ELISA)<\/strong> is considered the most reliable option.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4383\" data-end=\"4462\">Laboratory diagnostics of herpes is not only a means of confirming the diagnosis, but also a way to monitor your own health. Timely detection of the virus allows you to avoid complications, prevent transmission to partners or a child, and also begin effective treatment. Herpes is a controllable infection if you act with data, not assumptions.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why is it important to detect herpes in the laboratory? Herpes is not just a rash on the lips. It is a viral disease that can be<\/p>","protected":false},"author":627,"featured_media":9236,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/627"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9235"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9235\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}