title: Differentiation of primary from nonprimary genital herpes infections by a herpes simplex virus-specific immunoglobulin G avidity assay.
abstract: An immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody avidity assay which uses protein-denaturing agents and a modification of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay have been investigated for their usefulness in distinguishing primary genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections from nonprimary infections. Forty-nine serum specimens from patients with primary, recurrent, and nonprimary first-episode genital herpes were studied. The clearest separation was obtained with 6 M urea treatment, giving mean avidity indices of 0.398 for sera < or = 100 days after the infection and 0.879 for sera > 100 days after the infection (P < 0.001). No significant difference in avidity indices was observed between the recurrent and nonprimary first-episode infections. Determination of the avidity of HSV-specific IgG will improve the diagnostic potential of HSV serology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashido
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inouye
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawana
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000821:virology*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G