Genital herpes: a hidden epidemic

FDA Consumer, March-April, 2002 by Linda Bren

Genital Herpes Oral Antiviral Drugs

Prescription Drug       Manufacturer            Dosage for
                                                Initial Infection

Acyclovir               GlaxoSmithKline         200 milligrams (mg),
(Zovirax or generic)    (Zovirax) and others    5 times a day for 10
                        (generic)               days

Famciclovir             Novartis                N/A
(Famvir)                East Hanover, N.J.      (not FDA-approved
                                                to treat initial infec-
                                                tion)

Valacyclovir            GlaxoSmithKline         1 gram (g), 2 times a
(Valtrex)               Research Triangle       day for 10 days
                        Park, N.C.

Prescription Drug       Manufacturer            Dosage for
                                                Episodic Therapy

Acyclovir               GlaxoSmithKline         200 mg, 5 times a
(Zovirax or generic)    (Zovirax) and others    day for 5 days
                        (generic)

Famciclovir             Novartis                125 mg, 2 times a
(Famvir)                East Hanover, N.J.      day for 5 days

Valacyclovir            GlaxoSmithKline         500 mg, 2 times a
(Valtrex)               Research Triangle       day for 3 days
                        Park, N.C.

Prescription Drug       Manufacturer            Dosage for
                                                Suppressive Therapy

Acyclovir               GlaxoSmithKline         400 mg, twice a day
(Zovirax or generic)    (Zovirax) and others    (for up to 1 year; then
                        (generic)               doctor should
                                                reassess patient)

Famciclovir             Novartis                250 mg, twice a day
(Famvir)                East Hanover, N.J.      (for up to 1 year; then
                                                doctor should
                                                reassess patient)

Valacyclovir            GlaxoSmithKline         1 g, once a day
(Valtrex)               Research Triangle       Alternate dose for
                        Park, N.C.              those with a history of
                                                9 or fewer recurrences
                                                per year is 500 mg,
                                                once a day
                                                (for up to 1 year; then
                                                doctor should
                                                reassess patient)
Herpes Blood Tests

The standard testing procedure for herpes is to obtain a viral culture
of a sore within the first 48 hours after symptoms appear. Beyond 48
hours, there is a risk of the culture yielding a "false negative"
result because the sore may have begun healing and there may not be
live virus present. Blood tests can be used to confirma negative viral
culture result or to help determine herpes infection in a person with
no visible symptoms.

The FDA has cleared three type-specific blood tests, as shown below.

                              POCkit Rapid Test

Manufacturer                  Diagnology Inc.
Antibodies detected           HSV-2 only
Sensitivity (no false         49-100% accurate *
negatives)
Specificity (no false         65-100% accurate *
positives)
Result time                   Less than 10 minutes
Can be used during            No (has not been studied)
pregnancy
Cost of test                  About $80
Phone number                  1-877-776-2548
Web site                      www.pockit.com

                              HerpeSelect ELISA Kits

Manufacturer                  Focus Technologies
Antibodies detected           HSV-1 or HSV-2
Sensitivity (no false         93-100% accurate *
negatives)
Specificity (no false         89-100% accurate *
positives)
Result time                   About 1 to 2 weeks
Can be used during            Yes
pregnancy
Cost of test                  About $100
Phone number                  1-800-445-4032 (to locate
                              a lab in a specific area)
Web site                      www.focusanswers.com

                              HerpeSelect Immunoblot Kit

Manufacturer                  Focus Technologies
Antibodies detected           HSV-1 and HSV-2
Sensitivity (no false         91-100% accurate *
negatives)
Specificity (no false         95-100% accurate *
positives)
Result time                   About 1 to 2 weeks
Can be used during            Yes
pregnancy
Cost of test                  About $170
Phone number                  1-800-445-4032 (to locate a
                              lab in a specific area)
Web site                      www.focusanswers.com

* Accuracy is in comparison to Western Blot testing

Adapted from the American Social Health Association