title: Automated processing, extraction and detection of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2: A comparative evaluation of three commercial platforms using clinical specimens.
abstract: Recently, automated platforms have been developed that can perform processing, extraction and testing for herpes simplex virus (HSV) nucleic acid on a single instrument.
  
  
  
  In this study, we compared three commercially-available systems; Aptima®/Panther (Hologic, San Diego, CA), ARIES®(Luminex Corporation, Austin, TX), and cobas®4800 (Roche Molecular Systems Inc, Pleasanton, CA) for the qualitative detection of HSV-1/2 in clinical samples.
  
  
  
  Two-hundred seventy-seven specimens (genital [n=193], dermal [n=84]) were submitted for routine HSV-1/2 real-time PCR by a laboratory developed test. Following routine testing, samples were also tested by the Aptima, ARIES, and cobas HSV-1/2 assays per the manufacturer's recommendations. Results were compared to a "consensus standard" defined as the result obtained from ≥3 of the 4 assays.
  
  
  
  Following testing of 277 specimens, the cobas and ARIES assays demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% for HSV-1 (61/61) and HSV-2 (55/55). The Aptima assays showed a sensitivity of 91.8% (56/61) for HSV-1 and 90.9% (50/55) for HSV-2. Percent specificities for HSV-1 were 96.2% (202/210) by cobas, 99.5% (209/210) by ARIES and 100% (236/236) by Aptima. For HSV-2, the specificities were 98.1% (211/215) by cobas, 99.5% (215/216) by ARIES and 100% (216/216) by Aptima. The turnaround time for testing 24 samples was 2.5h by the cobas 4800, 3.1h by Aptima/Panther, and 3.9h by ARIES.
  
  
  
  The three commercial systems can perform all current functions on a single platform, thereby improving workflow and potentially reducing errors associated with manual processing of samples.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, United States. Electronic address: binnicker.matthew@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Binnicker
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, United States.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Espy
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, United States.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Duresko
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, United States.
authors.forename: Cole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Irish
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, United States; Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, United States.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mandrekar
mesh_terms: D057205:Automation, Laboratory / Q000379:methods*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral
keywords: Automated; Dermal; Genital; HSV; Nucleic acid amplification tests