title: Comparison of Western blot (immunoblot) and glycoprotein G-specific immunodot enzyme assay for detecting antibodies to herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in human sera.
abstract: Sera from patients with culture-proven genital herpes infections were tested for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)- and HSV-2-specific antibodies by both a Western blot (immunoblot) technique (WBA) and immunodot enzyme assays (IEAs) specific for HSV-1 or HSV-2 glycoprotein G (gG). Of 137 serum samples tested, none was mistyped by either WBA or IEA. Both tests were most sensitive with sera obtained at least 21 days after onset of primary HSV-2 infections or sera drawn during recurrent HSV-2 genital episodes: 75 of 76 (99%) such serum samples were positive for HSV-2 antibody by WBA and 73 of 76 (96%) were positive by IEA. Of sera drawn earlier than 21 days from onset of primary genital HSV-2, antibodies to HSV-2 were detected in 25% by WBA and 8% by IEA. In patients with culture-proven primary genital HSV-1 infection, WBA detected antibodies to HSV-1 proteins in 16 of 17 (94%) serum samples drawn at least 21 days after onset of primary genital HSV-1 infection, compared with 9 of 17 (53%) serum samples tested for gG-1 by IEA. Both WBA and IEA are accurate and sensitive tests for HSV-2 antibody in patients convalescing from a first episode or having symptomatic or asymptomatic recurrent genital herpes. WBA was more sensitive than IEA in detecting seroconversion following primary HSV-1 genital herpes, although both assays may miss persons undergoing early seroconversion to HSV-2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98105.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Militoni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nahmias
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corey
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012703:Serotyping; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C045464:glycoprotein G, herpes simplex virus type 2; C050591:glycoprotein gG-1, herpes simplex virus type 1