Wallach's Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests: Pathways to Arriving at a Clinical Diagnosis (1377 page)

   
Normal range:
Negative.

   Use

   HEV antibody IgM: diagnosing acute or recent (<6 months) hepatitis E infection

   HEV antibody IgG: diagnosis of past hepatitis E

   Interpretation

   Increased in previous or current hepatitis E infection

HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS (HSV) CULTURE (RULE OUT)

   Definition and Use

   HSV infection usually involves vesicular rashes of the oropharyngeal or genital sites, although HSV is capable of causing serious disseminated disease, including infection of multiple organ systems. Vertical transmission may result in neonatal infections, involving localized disease (skin, eyes, and mouth), systemic infection, or encephalitis. Other sites of infection in normal or immunocompromised patients include skin, conjunctiva, and the CNS. HSV can cause severe disseminated disease in immunocompromised patients, resulting in multiorgan dysfunction and failure.

   This test may be used to isolate HSV when specific diagnosis is required for patient management.

   Patient specimens are inoculated onto cultured eukaryotic cells, like human foreskin fibroblast or Vero cells. Tube or shell vial cultures may be used for HSV isolation. Cytopathic effect is usually manifested within 24–48 hours in specimens with heavy virus loads, such as vesicular lesions.

   Specific HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibody reagents may be used to further characterize HSV culture isolates, as needed.

   
Turnaround time:
Most positive cultures are detected within 2 days. Negative tube cultures are typically incubated for up to 7 days. Shell vial cultures are usually finalized within 48–72 hours.

   Special Collection and Transport Instructions