Clinical evaluation and cost analysis of a Trioplex real-time PCR assay for the detection and differentiation of herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 in cutaneous and mucocutaneous lesions.

Purpose: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common lifelong sexually transmitted infection. HSV-1 typically manifests as oral cold sores, while HSV-2 is more traditionally associated with sexual transmission and infection. We have developed a real-time PCR (Trioplex) for the simultaneous detection of HSV-1 and -2 and the bacterial phage internal control (IC) MS2.