Herpes Simplex virus (HSV1/2) PCR

Herpes simplex 1/2 infections are transmitted through contact with HSV herpes sores, mucosal surfaces, genital or oral secretions. HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be shed from normal-appearing oral or genital mucosa or skin. Typically, a person can only get HSV-2 infection during genital contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection. However, oral-genital contact from a person with oral HSV-1 can result in genital HSV-1 infection. Transmission most often occurs with an infected partner who does not have visible lesions and may not know they are infected. Most individuals infected with HSV are asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms that go unnoticed or are mistaken for other skin conditions. When symptoms do occur, genital herpes lesions typically appear as one or more vesicles on or around the genitals, rectum, or mouth. The average incubation period for an initial herpes infection is 2 to 12 days after exposure. The vesicles break and leave painful ulcers that may take two to four weeks to heal. The appearance of these symptoms is referred to as the first herpes 'outbreak' or episode. Clinical manifestations of genital herpes differ between the first and recurrent (i.e., later) outbreaks. The first herpes outbreak is often associated with a longer duration of lesions, increased viral shedding (making HSV transmission more likely), and systemic symptoms including fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, or headache.