Accuracy of Herpes Simplex Virus Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing of the Blood for Central Nervous System Herpes Simplex Virus Infections in Infants

There were 1038 infants with herpes simplex virus polymerase chain reaction testing performed of blood and cerebrospinal fluid specimens. There were 21 (2.0%) with a positive cerebrospinal fluid PCR, of whom 16 also had a positive blood PCR (sensitivity 76%; 95% CI, 53%-92%). Blood PCR cannot exclude herpes simplex virus central nervous system infection.

Source: The Journal of Pediatrics - May 18, 2018 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Todd W. Lyons, Andrea T. Cruz, Stephen B. Freedman, Lise E. Nigrovic, Herpes Simplex Virus Study Group of the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Collaborative Research Committee (PEMCRC) Tags: Clinical and laboratory observations Source Type: research