Virus

Clinical history

Query

Test

Specimen

Request

HSV 1/2

Symptomatic HSV infection
(genital or oro-facial herpes lesions, or prodrome/ inflammation stages characterised by itching/tingling prior to visual outbreak)

Active HSV infection

HSV PCR

Plain dry swab collected from lesion

HSV PCR

In-contact/risk
or determination of HSV immune status in patients with genital lesions which are PCR negative
or prognosis (HSV-1 genital infection not as likely to recur as HSV-2 infection)

HSV immune status

HSV 1/2 IgG Western blot

Serum

HSV 1/2 IgG

VZV

Symptomatic VZV infection (Chickenpox, Shingles)

Active VZV infection

VZ DFA
and culture (if DFA negative)

DFA slide
(infected cells collected from base of lesion)
and viral swab
(infected cells and vesicle fluid from lesion)

VZ DFA
and culture

Chickenpox

Primary VZV infection

VZ IgG and IgM

serum

VZ IgG/IgM

Immunity (past infection or immunisation)

VZV immune status

VZ IgG

Serum

VZ IgG

HSV
/VZV

Vesicles (?HSV or VZV infection)

Active HSV or VZV infection

HSV and VZ DFA

and culture (if DFA negative)

DFA slide
(infected cells collected from base of lesion)
and viral swab
(infected cells and vesicle fluid from lesion)

HSV/VZ DFA
and culture