Abstract
MRL Diagnostics has developed a dual enzyme immunoassay (EIA) system that employs the recombinant Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) type‐specific glycoproteins G1 (HSV1) and G2 (HSV2) to detect HSV type‐specific IgG antibodies. This system was evaluated using 155 consecutive sera previously tested in a conventional dual EIA system (Zeus) that employs multiple HSV1 and HSV2 proteins to detect type‐common as well as type‐specific antibodies. Sera were also analyzed by Western blot to determine the true HSV type‐specific IgG reactivity pattern. Of 110 sera giving concordant reactivity patterns in the MRL and Zeus EIA systems, 108 (98%) also displayed concordant Western blot patterns; two sera gave false positive HSV2 reactivity in both EIA systems. Of 45 sera giving discordant MRL and Zeus EIA reactivity patterns, 41 (91%) displayed a Western blot reactivity pattern that matched the MRL reactivity pattern. Both the HSV1 IgG component and the HSV2 IgG component of the MRL EIA system were 100% sensitive and > 95% specific. In contrast, the Zeus HSV1 IgG EIA was 98% sensitive and 79% specific, and the Zeus HSV2 IgG EIA was 85% sensitive and 79% specific. An analysis of the distribution of index values in the MRL EIA system showed that low‐positive values (1.0–3.0) were rare, but, when detected, often represented false positive results; only 11 MRL low‐positive results were observed, but all 6 MRL false positive results were found within this low‐positive subgroup. These findings show that the MRL dual EIA system effectively detects HSV type‐specific IgG antibodies. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 14:13–16, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Keywords: herpes simplex virus, type‐specific IgG, enzyme immunoassay
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