Testing for Herpes Simplex Virus in Low-Volume Cerebrospinal Fluid Samples: Comparison of Three Protocols To Optimize Detection.

Detection of herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a medical emergency and requires rapid, sensitive testing. However, the volume of CSF received for microbiological studies may be limited, especially from young children. In this study, we compared three testing protocols to our routine real-time PCR method to determine the most sensitive approach for detecting HSV-1 and HSV-2 in low-volume (≤100 μl) CSF.