title: Sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests for genital infection with herpesvirus hominis.
abstract: Three smear techniques for diagnosis of Herpesvirus hominis infection were evaluated by study of 168 unselected patients with genital lesions attending a venereal disease clinic. A tissue culture and results of three smear techniques were obtained for each patient in random order. H. hominis was recovered from 101 patients (60%). All three smear tests (immunofluorescence, Papanicolaou, and crystal violet) were highly specific, but the sensitivity of each was smaller than or equal to 40% among patients who had ulcerative lesions. Because H. hominis is a common cause of genital lesions and the clinical manifestations of disease are highly variable, future research must identify accurate diagnostic aids that are suitable for clinic use.
mesh_terms: D001768:Blister / Q000382:microbiology; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014456:Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D014776:Virus Cultivation