Clinical correlates of index values in the focus HerpeSelect ELISA for antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)

• Published in: Journal of clinical virology 2006-06, Vol.36 (2), p.141-145
• Main Authors: Ashley Morrow, Rhoda, Krantz, Elizabeth, Friedrich, David, Wald, Anna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies, Viral - blood; Antibodies, Viral - immunology; Antibody Affinity; Biological and medical sciences; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - standards; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genital herpes; Herpes Genitalis - blood; Herpes simplex virus 2; HerpeSelect; Herpesvirus 2, Human - immunology; HSV-2 serology; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Predictive Value of Tests; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic - standards; Time Factors; United States; Viral diseases; Virology
• ISSN: 1386-6532; 1873-5967
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2006.02.006

Clinical correlates of HerpeSelect ELISA index values are poorly understood. This study was designed to determine the effects of time of infection, test variability, and antibody avidity on index values. Sera ( N = 313) from 81 patients with new HSV-2 infections and 236 sera from 32 patients with long-standing (median 11.3 years) HSV-2 were tested by HerpeSelect HSV-2 ELISA. High positive, low positive and negative controls were run on 42 test plates to establish test variability. Index values tended to rise after infection, peaking a median of 9–10 weeks post-infection (range 8–323 days). Of 32 patients with established HSV-2 infections, 7 (22%) had at least one low index value (>1.1 to ≤3.5), and one had a transient seroreversion event. Test variability of index values was substantially lower than inter- or intra-patient variability. Median antibody avidity was higher in sera with high versus low index values in established infections, but unrelated to index value in patients with early infections. Index values or index value changes are not absolute indicators of early versus established HSV-2 infection or solely a function of test variability. Low antibody avidity may contribute to low index values once infection is established.