Herpes Simplex Virus Infections: An Overview of Testing for the Urgent Care Clinician.

In the urgent care (UC) setting, patients commonly present with nominal requests for herpes simplex virus (HSV) testing. HSV infections are common, pleomorphic, and associated with significant stigma. This combination creates a situation where decisions regarding which, if any, test(s) to obtain can be highly impactful for the mental health of patients and their romantic partners. It is imperative that UC clinicians understand the utility and test characteristics of HSV testing and the implications of findings before ordering testing. Given that both HSV-1 and HSV-2 are chronic infections, serologic testing results have the potential for lifelong consequences and should only be obtained in settings where clinically indicated and with appropriate patient counseling.