Comparative performance of a novel herpes simplex virus type 2-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a targeted chain oligopeptide, peptide 55.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoprotein G (gG2) has been used as the basis of many serological assays for the detection of HSV type 2 (HSV-2)-specific antibodies. In the present study, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the Pathozyme Viro HSV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) ELISA (Omega Diagnostics, Alva, United Kingdom), based on an immunodominant epitope of gG2 presented in a branched-chain format (peptide 55), was compared with two commercially available gG2-specific assays, the Bioelisa HSV-2 IgG assay (Biokit, S.A., Barcelona, Spain) and the HerpesSelect HSV-2 IgG assay (Focus Diagnostics, Cypress, CA). A panel of 218 well-characterized serum samples was tested. Thirty-one samples were determined to be HSV-2 IgG antibody positive and 164 samples were determined to be negative with all three kits. The levels of concordance between the tests were 95.9% between the Omega and HerpeSelect assays, 90.8% between the Omega and Bioelisa assays, and 94.5% between the HerpeSelect and Bioelisa assays. Twenty-three samples gave discordant results. Western blot results showed that of these, the results for 77% were correctly identified by the Omega assay, the results for 68% were correctly identified by the HerpeSelect assay, and the results for 13.6% were correctly identified by the Bioelisa assay. Although there was a high level of agreement between the results obtained by the three assays and no false-positive results were detected by any of the three kits, confirmation of the results for samples with discordant results by Western blotting suggested that the peptide 55-based Omega assay is the most sensitive and specific assay among the assays evaluated.
Al-Sulaiman
A M
AM
Virology, Genomic Epidemiology Research Group, School of Translational Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. Alsulaiman@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk
Vallely
P J
PJ
Klapper
P E
PE
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D009842:Oligopeptides; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D009842:Oligopeptides; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C045464:glycoprotein G, herpes simplex virus type 2