Differentiation of Serum Antibodies to Herpesvirus Types 1 and 2 by Radioimmunoassay

Summary

Antibody against herpes virus types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) was detected in a coded test of forty-eight coded human sera by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Antibody to antigens shared between the two virus types could be removed by adsorption with HSV-1 coated polystyrene allowing detection of HSV-2 specific antibody. No false positives were observed in eighteen women at low risk for HSV-2 infection. HSV-2 specific antibody was detected in ten of eighteen women who were at high risk for HSV-2 infection. Antibody to HSV-2 was detected in three of ten asymptomatic women. Biological variation in response to HSV-2 could provide an explanation for those asymptomatic women who were positive by virus isolation, but negative for HSV-2 type specific antibody by RIA.