title: False-negative type-specific glycoprotein G antibody responses in STI clinic patients with recurrent HSV-1 or HSV-2 DNA positive genital herpes, The Netherlands.
abstract: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type-discriminating antibody tests (glycoprotein G (gG) directed) are used to identify naïve persons and differentiate acute infections from recurrences. We studied test characteristics of three commercially available antibody tests in patients with recurrent (established by viral PCR tests) herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) genital herpes episodes.
  
  
  
  Serum samples (at minimum 3 months after t=0) were examined for the presence of gG-1-specific or gG-2-specific antibodies using the HerpeSelect 1 and 2 Immunoblot IgG, the HerpeSelect 1 and 2 enzyme linked immunoassays IgG and the LIAISON HSV-1 and HSV-2 IgG indirect chemiluminescence immunoassays.
  
  
  
  The immunoblot was HSV-1 positive in 70.6% (95% CI 44.0% to 89.7%), the LIAISON in 88.2% (95% CI 63.5% to 98.5%) and the ELISA in 82.4% (95% CI 56.6% to 96.2%) of the 17 patients with a recurrent HSV-1 episode. From 33 patients with a recurrent HSV-2 episode, the immunoblot was HSV-2 positive in 84.8% (95% CI 68.1% to 94.9%), the LIAISON in 69.7% (95% CI 51.3% to 84.4%) and the ELISA in 84.8% (95% CI 68.1% to 94.9%). Among 15/17 (88.2%; 95% CI 63.5% to 98.5%) patients with HSV-1 and 30/33 (90.1%; 95% CI 75.7% to 98.1%) patients with HSV-2, HSV-1 or HSV-2 antibodies, respectively, were detected in at least one of the three antibody tests.
  
  
  
  Commercial type-specific gG HSV-1 or HSV-2 antibody assays were false negative in 12-30% of patients with recurrent HSV-1 or HSV-2 DNA positive genital lesions. The clinical and epidemiological use of type-specific HSV serology can be hampered by false-negative results, especially if based on a single test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martijn S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: van Rooijen
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Flevoziekenhuis, Almere, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Roest
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Department of Medical Microbiology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kwa
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Department of Dermatology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Centre for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Henry J C
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: de Vries
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D012725:Sexual Behavior; 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
keywords: GENITAL HERPES; HERPES SIMPLEX (CLINICAL); SEROLOGY; VIROLOGY CLINICAL; VIROLOGY GENERAL LABORATORY