Diagnosis of infections with the herpes simplex virus and the varicella-zoster virus by virus detection and/or serology in the mother/child setting - INAHTA Brief

National Health Insurance wishes to change the list of refundable procedures in laboratory medicine in respect of diagnostic tests for infections due to the herpes simplex virus (types 1 and 2, HSV-1/-2) and the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), viruses that belong to the family Herpesviridae, within the context of mother-to-child transmission (or the "mother/child setting"). The proposed changes, which have been specified by the national reference laboratory for these viruses, focus on the inclusion of testing for their DNA in various contexts and samples using PCR, the removal of other techniques for direct virus detection (direct immunological diagnosis and specific cultures), and the inclusion, the removal or the restriction of serological tests.

The aim is to establish whether data from a critical analysis of the synthetic literature (good practice guidelines, systematic reviews and technology assessment reports) are consistent with the content of the application and whether they therefore support the proposals submitted by the applicant, so as to formulate an opinion relating to these proposals