Lab Dept:

Microbiology/Virology

Test Name:

HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS CULTURE

General Information

Lab Order Codes:

HSVC

Synonyms:

HSV Isolation; Herpes Culture; HSV Culture; HSV 1 and 2 Culture

CPT Codes:

87252 x 2 - Virus isolation; tissue culture inoculation, observation, and presumptive identification by cytopathic effect

The following testing may be added if appropriate based on findings for organism identification (multiple additions are possible if more than one organism is identified or more than one method is needed for identification).

87253 – Virus isolation; tissue culture, additional studies or definitive identification

Test Includes:

Culture for Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) only. Rapid FA for HSV must be ordered with this test. Refer to HSV Rapid FA. HSV is also detected in a routine viral culture.

Logistics

Lab Testing Sections:

Virology

Phone Numbers:

Minneapolis:

Saint Paul:

612-813-5806

651-220-6555

Test Availability:

Daily, 24 hours

Turnaround Time:

7 days

Special Instructions:

● Do Not use calcium alginate swabs.

● Requisition must state specific site of specimen and date/time of collection.

● Specimens should be collected in the acute stage of the disease, preferably within 3 days and no longer than 7 days after symptoms develop.

Specimen

Specimen Type:

Vesicle fluid, swab of base of lesion, tissue biopsy, nasopharyngeal swab, conjunctival swab, throat swab, oral swab , genital swab, bronchial ,tracheal aspirates, blood

Container:

Swab transport system, sterile container, Lavender top (EDTA) Vacutainer^™ tube, or viral transport media (M4 VTM)

Volume:

1 swab; 1.0 - 2.0 mL washings/aspirates; 5.0 mL whole blood

Collection:

Blood:

Venipuncture for patients less than 2 months of age: Prep with 2% tincture of iodine.

1. Disinfect the stopper of the Lavender top tube (EDTA) with 70% alcohol. Allow to dry.

2. Scrub venipuncture site with 70% alcohol for 1 min using the Frepp® applicator. Allow to dry.

3. Using the Sepp® applicator, apply 2% tincture of iodine to site starting at the center and moving outward in concentric circles. Allow to dry.

4. If the site must be touched during venipuncture, disinfect the gloved fingers

5. Collect 5.0 mL of blood and aseptically inoculate the Lavender top (EDTA) tube.

6. Gently invert the tube 4-5 times to mix contents.

7. Following collection, remove the iodine using the Frepp® applicator or an alcohol pad.

Venipuncture for patients more than 2 months of age: Prep with CloraPrep Sepp® Applicator.

1. Disinfect the stopper of the Lavender top (EDTA) tube with 70% alcohol and allow to dry.

2. Break the Sepp® ampule to release the 2% CHG.

3. Apply the CloraPrep solution using a back-and-forth friction scrub for 30 seconds.

4. Allow the area to dry for 30 seconds.

5. If the site must be touched during venipuncture, disinfect the gloved fingers.

6. Collect 5.0 mL of blood and aseptically inoculate the Lavender top (EDTA) tube.

7. Gently invert the tube 4-5 times to mix contents.

Line Draw:

1. Prep catheter port with 2% tincture of iodine or betadine followed by 70% alcohol. Allow to dry.

2. Aseptically collect 5.0 mL of blood through the injection port. Blood may be collected without first drawing a discard.

3. Aseptically inoculate the Lavender top (EDTA) tube.

Do Not centrifuge. Send in original Vacutainer^™ tube. Forward unprocessed whole blood promptly at ambient temperature only.

Bone Marrow:

Place 1.0 – 5.0 mL of bone marrow in Lavender top (EDTA) tube(s). Invert several times to mix bone marrow. Do Not centrifuge. Send in original Vacutainer^™ tube. Forward unprocessed bone marrow promptly at ambient temperature only.

Throat Swab:

1. Depress the tongue with a tongue depressor so the swab does not touch the tongue.

2. Sample the posterior pharynx, tonsils, and inflamed areas with a sterile swab.

Tissue:

Submit specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container.

Skin:

1. Wash vesicles with sterile saline.

2. Open the vesicle and absorb vesicular fluid into a dry swab.

3. Vigorously scrape base of freshly exposed lesion with swab to obtain cells which contain virus.

Cervical:

1. Remove exudate prior to collection of specimen.

2. Gently insert separate large swab into endocervical canal past squamocolumnar junction. Rotate for 5 - 10 seconds.

3. To avoid contamination, withdraw swab while avoiding touching any vaginal surfaces.

Vaginal:

1. Wipe away excessive amount of secretion or discharge.

2. Obtain secretions from mucosal membrane of the vaginal vault with a sterile swab.

Nasopharyngeal:

1. Obtain 2 specimens using 2 NP swabs (i.e., MiniTip^™ Culturette).

2. Gently insert swab through nose into posterior nasopharynx.

3. Gently rotate swab slowly for 5 seconds to absorb secretions.

4. Collect a second specimen in the same manner.

Bronchoscopy:

1. 1.0 – 2.0 mL of specimen obtained by physician through the biopsy channel of the bronchoscope.

2. Transfer specimen into a luki tube.

3. Transport to the Microbiology Laboratory immediately.

Nasopharyngeal aspirates:

1. Prepare suction set up on low to medium suction

2. Wash hands, Put on protective barriers. (e.g., gloves, gown, mask)

3. Place child supine and obtain assistant to hold child during procedure.

4. Attach luki tube to suction tubing and #6 french suction catheter.

5. Insert catheter into nostril and pharynx without applying suction.

6. Apply suction as catheter is withdrawn. If necessary, suction 0.5-1.0 mL of normal saline through catheter in order to clear the catheter and increase the amount of specimen in the luki tube.

Conjunctiva:

Do Not use a dry swab to collect an eye culture.

1. Moisten swab with sterile saline.

2. Retract lower lid and firmly swab conjunctival surface with enough pressure to collect epithelial cells. Avoid eyelid border and lashes.

Special Processing:

Extract swab specimen thoroughly into transport medium by swirling and pressing swab against the inside of the vial, then discard swab. Allow NP swabs to remain in the media by cutting the shaft of the swab. Cap tightly.

Transport/Storage:

Maintain sterility and transport to the Microbiology Lab immediately at room temperature. Store at refrigerated temperatures.

Note: If there is a delay in transport of 1 hour or more, place specimen in viral transport media and refrigerate.

Sample Rejection:

Specimen with a transit time exceeding 2 hours after collection; specimen not submitted in appropriate transport container; improperly labeled specimen; insufficient volume; external contamination. If an unacceptable specimen is received, the physician or nursing unit will be notified and another specimen will be requested before the specimen is discarded.

Interpretive

Reference Range:

No Herpes Simplex Virus isolated after 7 days.

Critical Values:

Positive results in systemic infections will be called to the physician or nursing unit.

Limitations:

● HSV can only rarely be cultured from the CSF of patients with HSV 1 encephalitis. The virus is occasionally isolated from spinal fluid of patients with HSV 2 meningitis and of neonates with congenital herpes. HSV PCR is the method of choice for detecting HSV in CSF.

● A negative result does not eliminate the possibility of HSV infection.

Methodology:

Cell culture with confirmation of HSV cytopathic effect with fluorescein-labeled monoclonal antibodies specific for HSV type 1 or 2.

Additional Information:

Genital transmission of HSV infection to sexual partners and neonates involves subclinical shedding of HSV by women with genital herpes. Such shedding is detectable by culture. Culture can provide evidence of acyclovir resistance, and detect potential for transmission of HSV to neonates.

References:

Cook, JH, and M Pezzlo (1992). Specimen receipt and accessioning. Section 1. Aerobic bacteriology, 1.2.1-4. In HD Isenberg (ed) Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook. American Society for Microbiology, Washington DC

Miller, J Michael (1999) A Guide To Specimen Management in Clinical Microbiology, American Society for Microbiology, Washington DC

Miller, J Michael, and HT Holmes (1999) Specimen Collection, Transport, and Storage In PR Murray et al, (ed), Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 7^th edition, American Society for Microbiology, Washington DC, pp 33-104

Updates:

3/24/2010: CPT Updates