Performance of focus ELISA tests for HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies among university students with no history of genital herpes.
OBJECTIVE
To define the performance characteristics of the Focus ELISA HSV-1 and HSV-2 assay among 100 university students.


METHODS
HSV-1 and HSV-2 Focus ELISA and Western Blot assays were performed on sera from university students who reported no history of genital herpes.


RESULTS
HSV-2 and HSV-1 seroprevalence by Western Blot were 3.4% and 48%, respectively. In this population, the positive predictive value of the Focus HSV-2 ELISA was 37.5%, the sensitivity was 100%, and specificity was 94.1%. The PPV of the Focus HSV-1 ELISA was 96.7%, the sensitivity was 69.0%, and the specificity was 97.8%.


CONCLUSIONS
In this low-prevalence population, the positive predictive value of the Focus HSV-2 ELISA test was low. This finding, together with those reported elsewhere, indicates that caution is warranted when recommending HSV screening in low-prevalence or heterogeneous populations. Consideration should be given to raising the cutoff index value for defining a positive test result.
Mark
Hayley D
HD
Department of Community and Public Health Nursing, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. hmark1@son.jhmi.edu
Nanda
Joy P
JP
Roberts
Jessica
J
Rompalo
Anne
A
Melendez
Johan H
JH
Zenilman
Jonathan
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000914:Antibodies, Viral