TruQuick™ HSV 1,2 IgM

Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), also known as human herpesvirus 1 and 2 (HHV- 1 and HHV-2), are two members of the herpesvirus family, Herpesviridae, that infect humans.1 Both HSV-1 (which produces most cold sores) and HSV-2 (which produces most genital herpes) are ubiquitous and contagious. They can be spread when an infected person is producing and shedding the virus. According to the World Health Organization, 67% of the world population under the age of 50 have HSV-1. Symptoms of herpes simplex virus infection include watery blisters in the skin or mucous membranes of the mouth, lips, nose or genitals.2 Lesions heal with a scab characteristic of herpetic disease. Sometimes, the viruses cause very mild or atypical symptoms during outbreaks. However, they can also cause more troublesome forms of herpes simples. As neurotropic and neuroinvasive viruses, HSV-1 and HSV-2 persist in the body by becoming latent and hiding from the immune system in the cell bodies of neurons. After the initial or primary infection some infected people experience sporadic episodes of viral reactivation or outbreaks. In an outbreak, the virus in a nerve cell becomes active and is transported via the neuron’s axon to the skin, where virus replication and shedding occur and cause new sores.2 It is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections.3 The detection of anti-HSV 1/2 IgM antibody enables effective diagnosis of acute or recent HSV 1/2 infection. TruQuick HSV 1/2 IgM is a rapid chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of IgM antibody to HSV 1/2 in whole blood, serum or plasma specimens.