HHV testing in Cytology

Microscopy discovery of C. trachomatis has an increased sensitivity and specificity of 74% to 90% and a specificity of 9 8 percent to 99 percent. According to the AAP’s Committee on Infectious Diseases, nucleic acid amplification techniques, such as PCR, transcription-mediated amplification (TMA), and strand displacement amplification (SDA) are somewhat more sensitive than cell culture and much more sensitive and specific than DNA probe, direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) tests, or enzyme immunoassays (EIAs), although specificity is factor compared with civilization (AAP, 2006).

The LCDC Expert Working Group (2000) reasoned that serologic and PCR tests are designed to diagnose an active or current HHV-6 disease,”additional investigation in the clinical context (specificity, sensitivity, and predictive values) must be performed in order to boost confidence and efficacy of HHV-6 lab testing.” Guidelines from the AAP (2009) said that PCR tests for HHV-6 can be found in reference laboratories. Recently updated recommendations from the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases (2009) commented on using PCR testing to discovered intrauterine CMV disease:”Amniocentesis has been utilized in many small series of patients to ascertain the diagnosis of esophageal disease.


Based on recommendations from the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases (AAP, 2009), a PCR assay frequently can detect HSV DNA in CSF from patients with CNS disease through the period (neonatal HSV CNS disease) as well as herpes simplex encephalitis in older children and adults and is the diagnostic procedure of choice to CNS HSV participation. An UpToDate evaluation on Individual T-lymphotropic virus type I: Disease institutions, identification, and therapy” (Scadden et al, 2013) claims that Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) -based testing to detect proviral DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells is another diagnostic evaluation.

Definitive diagnosis requires immunohistochemical visualization of rickettsiae in cells, isolation of this receptor, discovery of the DNA of rickettsiae from PCR assay, or antibody discovery in paired serum specimens obtained during the acute and convalescent stages of the illness (AAP, 2009). Upgraded guidelines from the CDC (2010) said that, regardless of the availability of PCR and other nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) for GBS,”usefulness of these assays from the intrapartum setting stays restricted.” The guidelines clarify that, although an extremely sensitive and specific evaluation with quick turnaround time can be utilised to evaluate intra-partum GBS colonization and so obviate the need for antenatal screening,”information on currently available assays don’t encourage their use in replacement of antenatal civilization or risk-based evaluation of women with unknown GBS status on admission for labour.

The CDC guidelines clarify the extra time necessary for enrichment of samples (that is imperative to boost the sensitivity of NAATs to acceptable levels) makes it not feasible for intrapartum testing, along with also the sensitivity of assays in the absence of enrichment isn’t sufficient compared to civilization.