| Test: | Culture, Herpes Simplex |
| Synonym: | Herpes Culture; Herpes Simplex 1 and 2 Culture; HSV Culture |
| Method: | Cell Culture |
| Availability: | Daily; results in 1-7 days |
| Specimen: | Vesicle fluid and cells from lesion or CSF; for other sources order Viral Culture, General |
| Collection Device: | Starswab Multitrans Collection and Transport System or equivalent Specimen Collection: 1. Aseptically remove sterile swab from package. 2. Collect specimen by vigorously swabbing site involved. 3. Aseptically remove cap from vial. 4. Insert swab into medium and break swab at the scored line. 5. Replace cap on vial. Close tightly. 6. Fill out vial label with patient's name, date of birth, and source of specimen. 7. Refrigerate during transport. |
| Volume: | |
| Storage/Transport: | Refrigerate |
| Unacceptable: | Samples in non-viral transport media, bacterial culture swabs, dry swabs, wood shaft or calcium alginate swabs, samples in EIA and Probetec transport media |
| Specimen Stability: | Stable at refrigerated |
| Reference Interval: | No CPE detected |
| Reportable Disease: | |
| Comments: | |
| Revised: | 2/13/2012 |