Serologic screening for herpes simplex virus among university students: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The authors examined the feasibility of conducting serologic testing for the herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) among university students and assessed the psychosocial impact of an HSV-2 diagnosis.


METHODS
The authors recruited a convenience sample of 100 students (aged 18-39 years) without a history of genital herpes from 1 university between September 2004 and March 2006. Participants received HSV-2 antibody testing by Focus ELISA and Western Blot assays and completed a questionnaire that addressed psychological functioning. Twenty-eight participants completed the questionnaire again at a 3-month follow-up visit.


RESULTS
The study revealed (1) low test-reliability in the student population, (2) that positive test results may cause a decline in psychological well-being, and (3) that substantial resources are required to support students with positive HSV-2 results.


CONCLUSIONS
Test performance, psychological impact, and availability of resources for counseling students with positive diagnoses should be considered before implementing HSV testing programs.
Mark
Hayley
H
The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. hmark1@son.jhmi.edu
Nanda
Joy P
JP
Joffe
Alain
A
Roberts
Jessica
J
Rompalo
Anne
A
Melendez
Johan
J
Zenilman
Jonathan
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018139:Simplexvirus; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult