Diagnostic accuracy of rapid one-step PCR assays for detection of herpes simplex virus-1 and -2 in cerebrospinal fluid: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Rapid and accurate diagnosis of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 and -2 (HSV1/2) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is important for patient management.

Objectives: Summarize the diagnostic accuracy of commercial rapid sample-to-answer PCR assays (results in <90 minutes, without a separate nucleic acid extraction step) for HSV1/2 detection in CSF.

Data Sources: Four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and CENTRAL) and five conference abstract datasets from January 2012 to March 2022.