Type-specific detection of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 using the cobas® HSV 1 and 2 test on the cobas® 4800 platform

Abstract

HSV-1 and HSV-2 are among the most common causes of sexually transmitted infections (stis) globally. these infections are strongly associated with increased risk of hiv acquisition and rare, but devastating, neonatal disease. available treatment options can reduce HSV transmission and improve quality of life. accurate diagnosis early in disease can improve patient management. Areas covered: This paper describes the clinical manifestations of HSV infection often used for clinical diagnostic purposes. The paper then describes the evolution of laboratory diagnostic assays. Serology, culture and molecular diagnostics are described since all are currently in use. The features and performance characteristics of the cobas 4800 HSV1 and HSV2 Test (cobas HSV) on the cobas 4800® system (cobas 4800) are described in detail. Expert commentary: Diagnosis of HSV has historically been unreliable or technically difficult, but the availability of molecular assays such as the cobas HSV test for detection and typing of herpes can improve our ability to correctly manage this disease. Utilization of tools such as the cobas HSV assay may help shorten the time to accurate diagnosis and treatment thus potentially reducing the risk of transmission and the global burden of HSV.

Evaluation of the cobas Cdiff Test for Detection of Toxigenic Clostridium difficile in Stool Samples

“…The cobas 4800 system is a walk-away platform to perform nucleic acid purification and real-time PCR (qPCR) set up in a 96-well plate, followed by manual sealing and transferring of the plate to the amplification and detection system (33). The system currently is available for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-S. aureus (34), C. difficile (this study), herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 (35,36), Chlamydia trachomatis-Neisseria gonorrhoeae (37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42), and high-risk human papillomavirus (43)(44)(45) testing and BRAF (46), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (47), and KRAS (48) mutation detection. The cobas MRSA/SA test, the cobas Cdiff test, and the cobas HSV 1 and 2 test can be performed simultaneously in a single testing run.…”