Table 2.

Indirect methods for HSV diagnosis

Method	Tissue sampled	Sensitivity	Specificity	Advantages	Disadvantages
				Distinguish between HSV-1 and 2
Western Blot2	Serum	~100%	~100%	Detect early seroconversion to HSV-2 in patient with prior HSV-1 infection.	Not commercially available Expensive 2–3 days for results
				Commercially available
EIA2	Serum	93–98%	93–98%	Distinguish between HSV-1 and HSV-2	Lack of sensitivity (compared to amplified tests)2
	Serum			Less expensive than western blot2	Commercially available only for HSV-22
Point of care tests2	Capillary blood37	96%	87–98%	Accurate results rapidly (6 min.)37	Expensive36
				Easily performer37	Not for large volume screening36
				Detects seroconversion within 4 weeks of presentation of 80% of patients with HSV-2 episodes37	Complexity nonwaived (moderate)36