Serological prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 amongst GUM clinic attenders in a district general hospital setting

Woolley, P D; Chandiok, S; Pumphrey, Janet G.; Sharratt, S.; Shanley, Lianne C.; Bennett, Steve

doi:10.1258/0956462001916092

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Cobas has a sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 98% when culture is used as a marker of infection and pediatric sera (presumed negative) for specificity calculations [18]. The Captia Select HSV-2 EIA has been somewhat less sensitive (90%-92%) with 91%-98% specificity [29,30].…”

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confidence: 99%

Serological Testing for Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)–1 and HSV‐2 Infection

2002

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Serological tests for herpes simplex virus (HSV) that can accurately distinguish between HSV-1 and HSV-2 are now commercially available. These tests detect antibodies to HSV glycoproteins G-1 and G-2, which evoke a type-specific antibody response. Focus Technologies produces the HerpeSelect-1 and HerpeSelect-2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests and the HSV-1 and HSV-2 HerpeSelect1/2 Immunoblot. Diagnology has marketed POCkit-HSV-2, a point-of-care test for HSV-2 that allows blood from a finger stick to be tested in a clinic. These tests can be used to confirm a genital herpes diagnosis, establish diagnosis of HSV infection in patients with atypical complaints, identify asymptomatic carriers, and identify persons at risk for acquiring HSV. Potential settings for use of these tests include sexually transmitted disease clinics, prenatal clinics, and clinics that care for patients with human immunodeficiency virus. Patient interest in HSV serological tests appears high.

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confidence: 99%

Serological Testing for Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)–1 and HSV‐2 Infection

2002

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“…25 In our study, a similar prevalence (60%) was found with no difference between males and females. The prevalence was independently related to lower education, increased years of sexual activity (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24), and patients' history of cold sores.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genital herpes serotesting: a study of the epidemiology and patients' knowledge and attitude among STD clinic attenders in Coventry, UK

Narouz

Allan²,

Wade³

et al. 2003

Sexually Transmitted Infections

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Objectives: To examine the seroprevalence and correlates of antibodies to herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2), and to assess patients' knowledge and attitude towards genital herpes infection and its serotesting, before and after counselling. Methods: A cross sectional study among genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic attenders in Coventry, a UK metropolitan city. Participants were asked to complete a self administered questionnaire before and after counselling. Patients were counselled before testing and after receiving the result. A commercially available enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used to identify HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies (Gull/ Meridian EIA). Results: 223 patients participated in the study (97% of eligible patients). Overall, prevalence of HSV-2 antibody was 43/216 (20%) (19/103, 18% for males and 24/113 (21%) for females, p=0.61) while prevalence of HSV-1 antibody was 129/215 (60%) (60% for both sexes, p=0.91). In the multivariate analysis HSV-2 seropositivity was higher among black people and those with a history of genital herpes. HSV-1 seropositivity was independently associated with less education, increased years of sexual activity (between 14-25 years), and history of cold sores. The majority of patients wanted this serotesting to be available in the clinic (204/222 (92%) before and 216/218 (99%) after counselling, p=0.0003) and 97% accepted the test when offered. Only three patients regretted having the test and four patients contacted the department within 6 months of receiving the results for more counselling. Conclusion:The vast majority of the study population not only wanted to be tested, but accepted the test when offered. HSV-2 infection is common and largely unrecognised among our study population. The psychological impact of introducing type specific HSV serological testing in a clinical setting seems to be minimal. Counselling could improve patients' awareness of the infection and the acceptability of the test and its results. G enital herpes infection is the most common cause of genital ulceration, in both the developed world and in developing countries.1 2 The annual number of reported cases of genital herpes presenting to genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in England and Wales increased fourfold between 1976 and 1996. 3 In the United States, HSV-2 seroprevalence rose from 16% in 1978 to 22% in 1990. 4 5 Seroprevalence studies revealed that we diagnose only about 20% of patients with genital herpes and that the majority of these cases are unrecognised by both patients and clinicians.6 Clearly, undiagnosed genital herpes infections are the major factor in fuelling the genital herpes epidemic, as source partners in most transmission events are unaware that they have genital herpes. Patients shed the virus and transmit it even in the absence of clinical signs.7 Although the efficacy of transmission is higher at the time of lesions, most transmission has been shown to occur during periods of asymptomatic viral shedding. Accurate type specific serological tests c...

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“…22 HSV-2 prevalence in two recent surveys among unselected UK GUM clinic attendees was estimated at 22.7% in a central London clinic 23 and 14.3% in a district general hospital in Trafford. 24 However, the general UK population prevalence is probably closer to 4-5%. 15 Dependent on local population characteristics and variations in accessibility and case mix between GUM clinics, the HSV-2 prevalence in GUM settings across the UK may therefore vary between 5 and 20%.…”

Section: Pcrmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using the evidence base on genital herpes: optimising the use of diagnostic tests and information provision

Scoular¹

2002

Sexually Transmitted Infections

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Serological prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 amongst GUM clinic attenders in a district general hospital setting

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

Serological Testing for Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)–1 and HSV‐2 Infection

Serological Testing for Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)–1 and HSV‐2 Infection

Genital herpes serotesting: a study of the epidemiology and patients' knowledge and attitude among STD clinic attenders in Coventry, UK

Using the evidence base on genital herpes: optimising the use of diagnostic tests and information provision

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