On the Horizon: Studies have Shown that Over 80% Herpes Infections are Asymptomatic

Herpes virus is a ubiquitous pathogen whose primary infections are usually asymptomatic. There are two types of Herpes Simplex virus (HSV): HSV-1 is known to cause orofacial disease such as cold sores; while HSV-2 causes genital infections. Over 80% of the herpes infections are asymptomatic; symptomatic infections are presented with blistering sores, pain during urination, swollen lymph nodes, and fever. Period of latency and mode of reactivation of HSV is yet unclear.

Studies have shown that over 80% herpes infections are asymptomatic, which makes their timely diagnosis challenging. In cases where symptoms are present, they appear in the form of blistering sores, fever, swelling in the lymph nodes, and pain during urination. Because of this, highly accurate and sensitive diagnostic tests are the only tool available to physicians suspecting HSV infections. The global herpes marker testing market currently features four types of HSV biomarker tests – antigen tests, cell culture tests, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and antibody tests. The report on the herpes marker testing market studies the uptake of each of these test types in detail to emerge with details such as: the most widely-used test currently, the future shares of herpes marker tests, innovations in test techniques, and so on.

Hitherto, PCR tests have led in terms of accuracy of results in diagnosing HSV. The other benefit afforded by PCR tests is that they can help diagnosticians identify HSV-1 and HSV-2 viral load. Cell culture tests are also accurate, but carry the risk of misdiagnosis if the skin lesion samples used for the test are in the process of healing. Antibody and antigen tests, on the other hand, are based on enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). These tests, which use blood samples for testing HSV antibodies and antigens, are quick as well as accurate.

Download the Future Shares of Herpes Marker Tests: https://goo.gl/iE5fl2

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show a 16% prevalence of HSV-2 among people in the U.S., with the African-American female population being most widely affected. In Canada, the country’s Public Health Agency has found the prevalence of HSV-1 infection to be higher. Data also shows that about 70% developed countries have HSV-1 seroprevalence among adults; in underdeveloped countries, this rate is just short of 100%. However, despite this, it is the North America and European regions that lead the global herpes marker testing because of a higher percentage of seroprevalence among the population in the countries in these regions coupled with a high HIV patient population.

The report also profiles the following leading companies in the global herpes marker testing market: DiaSorin, Enzo Life Sciences, Roche, and Thermo Fisher Scientific.