Rapid polymerase chain reaction assay to detect herpes simplex virus in the genital tract of women in labor.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a rapid quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect herpes simplex virus (HSV) in the genital secretions of women that may be used in labor.

METHODS

Samples of genital secretions from women in labor, swabs of active genital lesions, and swabs of buffer solution were analyzed using a newly developed rapid HSV PCR assay to detect HSV glycoprotein B gene and quantitate virion copy number. A previously validated TaqMan PCR to detect HSV glycoprotein B gene was performed as the comparator gold standard. Positivity determination that optimized sensitivity and specificity was determined with receiver operating characteristic curves.

RESULTS

The median time to result for rapid HSV PCR was 2 hours (range 1.5-3.5 hours). A positivity determination rule that required both wells of the rapid test to detect 150 copies or greater of HSV per milliliter maximized specificity (96.7%) without appreciable loss of sensitivity (99.6%). Among positive samples, the correlation between the rapid test and TaqMan for the quantity of HSV isolated was excellent (R=0.96, P<.001). The rapid test had a positive predictive value of 96.7% and a negative predictive value of 99.6% in a population with HSV shedding prevalence of 10.8%, based on the prevalence of genital HSV previously found among HSV-2 seropositive women in labor.

CONCLUSION

Rapid HSV PCR provides results with excellent sensitivity and specificity within a timeframe that could inform clinical decision making for identifying neonates at risk of neonatal HSV infection.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.