HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus Test Kit)
Herpes is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus or HSV. There are two types of HSV, and both can cause genital herpes. HSV type 1 most commonly infects the lips, causing sores known as fever blisters or cold sores, but it also can infect the genital area and produce sores. HSV type 2 is the usual cause of genital herpes, but it also can infect the mouth.
It is very important for you to know since you can give herpes to someone else without knowing you have it. Children, with an undeveloped immune system, can be exposed to Herpes 1 with a simple kiss from a loved one, then they can have herpes forever! The highest incidence of initial infection occurs between six months and three years of age.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF A HERPES INFECTION? WHAT DOES A HERPES OUTBREAK LOOK LIKE? WHAT ARE THE FIRST SIGNS OF HERPES?
Herpes is another one of the “silent” sexually transmitted diseases or infections. Unfortunately, most people who have been infected with Herpes never know it because they either don’t have any symptoms or they don’t recognize the symptoms that they do have.
Signs and symptoms of Herpes can be different for each person. Most times, when you become infected with Herpes for the first time, the symptoms appear within 2 to 10 days. And this first episode may last between 2 to 3 weeks.
The signs and symptoms that you have been exposed to the Herpes virus are the same for men and women. The early symptoms of genital herpes are:
- Generalized aches and pains in the legs, buttocks and sexual organ area
- Pain and pressure in the area between your belly button and your sexual organs
- An unusual discharge from the vagina or penis
- An itching or burning feeling in your sexual organs area including the rectum
- A fever and upset stomach that you may think is the flu
The next stage of the symptoms of Herpes includes:
- An itching or burning before the blisters appear
- Blisters near the area where the virus has entered the body such as the mouth, penis or vagina
- Open sores develop next, crust over and then heal
- Swollen glands in the area between your belly button and your sexual organs
- A burning sensation when you urinate
HERPES TRANSMISSION – HOW DO YOU GET HERPES?
Most people get genital herpes by having sex with someone who is having a herpes “outbreak.” This outbreak means that Herpes virus is active.
When active, the virus usually causes visible lesions in the genital area. The lesions shed (cast off) viruses that can infect another person. Sometimes, however, a person can have an outbreak and have no visible sores at all. People often get genital herpes by having sexual contact with others who don’t know they are infected or who are having outbreaks of herpes without any sores.
A person with genital herpes also can infect you during oral sex.
Test Procedure
Collect the patient’s peripheral blood and make it contracted in a natural way.
Once the specimen is collected, detect it as soon as possible.
Please read the instructions carefully before detection, do not open the Test Cassette foil pouch until you are ready to perform the test.
1.Open the foil bag, take out the cassette and put on the table.
2.Open the Alcohol Pad. Use the Alcohol Pad to disinfect the finger where to be pricked. (Note: Before blood collection, make sure the finger is clean and dry).
3. Open a lancet and prick the fingertip, draw the fingertips blood specimen with one pipette .
4. Drop 3 drops whole blood (80μl-100μl) with the pipette vertically into the sample hole of cassette. Add 1 drop of buffer (30μl-40μl) into the same hole if the whole blood is thick. Avoid air bubble in the pipette, a bubble may prevent the complete transfer of sample and invalidate the test. Use a new pipette for each test performed, even if using the same sample.
Interpretation of Result
Negative: Only one red line appears on the control region(C).No red line appears on the test region. (T)
Positive: One red line appears on the control region(C) and meanwhile red line appears on the test
region. (T)
Invalid: The test is invalid if the control line is not visible on the control region(C) .The test failed, or the
test procedure was not followed properly. Verify the test procedure and repeat the test with a new
testing device.
Result illustrations
Precautions
1. The blood must be fresh for test, avoiding freezing repeatedly.
2. Read result after 30minutes may give erroneous results.
3. Do not use after the expiration.
4. If the patient, for the first time, is infected in less than 5 days, with no detected specific antibody, the result will be negative when testing.
5. The parent antibody can be detected from the specimens of a yearling baby, therefore, it is not appropriate to take this test to evaluate the baby’s history of infection and immunization .
Photo: Herpes Positive Results 2 Lines