Performance characteristics of a glycoprotein G based oligopeptide (peptide 55) and two different methods using the complete glycoprotein as assays for detection of anti-HSV-2 antibodies in human sera

• Published in: Journal of virological methods 2003, Vol.107 (1), p.21-27
• Main Authors: Nilsen, Arvid, Ulvestad, Elling, Marsden, Howard, Langeland, Nina, Myrmel, Helge, Matre, Roald, Haarr, Lars
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies, Viral - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - methods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glycoprotein G2; Herpesvirus 2, Human - immunology; HSV-2 serodiagnosis; Humans; Microbiology; Peptide 55; Peptide Fragments - immunology; Receiver operating characteristics (ROC); Techniques used in virology; Viral Envelope Proteins - immunology; Virology
• ISSN: 0166-0934; 1879-0984
• DOI: 10.1016/S0166-0934(02)00185-4

Assays for serological diagnosis of HSV-2 infection in clinical settings have been generally available only recently. We wanted to investigate and compare the diagnostic utility of three different ELISAs for detection of anti-HSV-2 IgG antibodies, using intact glycoprotein G or an oligopeptide from a portion of the protein as antigens. HSV-1 negative/HSV-2 negative sera ( n=32), HSV-1 positive/HSV-2 negative sera ( n=30) and sera from HSV-2 culture positive individuals ( n=36), collected at least 6 months after culture verified HSV-2 genital infection were examined. Cut-off values were determined according to the manufacturer's instructions, and also by establishing new cut-off values at the level of highest diagnostic efficiency. Sensitivities and specificities were compared for each assay. In addition, test accuracies were compared using receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) methodology. Establishment of new cut-off values increased the performance characteristics for all three tests. At similarly set cut-off values, the peptide 55 assay showed the highest diagnostic sensitivity (100%) and specificity (98%). All three assays displayed high efficiency and also high agreement between the tests ( κ>0.85 for all comparisons). The performance of all three assays were satisfactory although the highest efficiency and accuracy was obtained with the peptide 55 assay.