title: Underestimation of HSV-2 seroprevalence in a high-risk population by microneutralization assay.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Complement independent neutralizing antibody assays (CINA) have been used in seroepidemiologic studies and in diagnostic laboratories to distinguish between antibodies to herpes simplex virus types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2). The accuracy of CINA has not been rigorously tested against protein-specific typing assays, such as Western blot.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the ability of CINA to identify HSV-2 antibodies alone or in the presence of HSV-1 antibodies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sera from randomly selected women at the Seattle King County Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic were tested by CINA and Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 521 women tested, 81% had HSV antibodies by Western blot and 76% had neutralizing antibodies. Of 220 sera with HSV-2 antibodies by Western blot, 106 (48%) were serotyped correctly by CINA. Of the women studied, 140 (27%) had type-indeterminate neutralizing antibodies; 55 of these sera (39%) had antibody only to HSV-1 by Western blot.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The seroprevalence of HSV-2 in an STD clinic population was seriously underestimated by CINA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dalessio
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dragavon
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Koutsky
authors.forename: F K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Nahmias
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corey
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral