Ray is a 33-year-old cisgender man with HIV on bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF)

Ray is a 33-year-old cisgender man with HIV on bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF). His last CD4 count was 282 cells/mm3, and his last HIV viral load was 500 copies/mL3 about 3 months ago. He presents to the clinic with painful genital lesions that have been present for the past five days. He notes 12 lifetime male and female partners and has been active with a new male partner within the past 6 weeks. A diagnosis of Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is being considered. Which of the following diagnostic testing modalities is preferred in this setting? Choose: HSV culture of genital lesion fluid HSV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from the base of genital lesion Serum Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) antibody Serum Herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) antibody Tzanck smear from the base of the genital lesion