Comparison of a monoclonal antibody-blocking enzyme-linked immunoassay anda strip immunoblot assay for identifying type-specific herpes simplex virus type 2 serological responses

Detection of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)-specific antibodies by a m onoclonal antibody (MAb)-blocking enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA) was compa red with detection by a strip immunoblot assay (SW) in a sexually transmitt ed disease (STD) clinic population. The study population consisted of 1,683 genitourinary medicine clinic attendees (582 cr omen and 1,101 men). Sera were tested for the presence of HSV-2 antibody by use of the blocking EIA, in which binding of the MAb AP-1 to HSV-2 glycoprotein G-2 (gG-2) is blocke d by HSV-2-specific antibody, The Chiron RIBA HSV-1 and -2 strip immunoassa y (SW) utilizes HSV-1-and HSV-2-specific or cross-reactive antigens immobil ized on nitrocellulose strips (HSV gB-1 and HSV gG-1 peptide bands specific for HSV-1 antibody, HSV-2 gG-2 band specific for HSV-2 antibody, and HSV g D-2 band cross-reactive for HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies). A total of 1,612 s era were tested by MAb-blocking EW for HSV-2 antibody and by SW for HSV-1 a nd HSV-2 antibodies. By EW, 541 (33.6%) sera were positive for HSV-2 antibo dy and 1,068 sera were negative for HSV-2 antibody; 3 sera gave equivocal r esults. HSV-2 antibody was detected in 555 (34.4%) sera by SIA; 144 (26%) o f these sera possessed only HSV-2 antibody, and 411 (74%) sera contained bo th HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies. SIA detected HSV-1 antibody in 1,155 (71.6%) sera; 743 (64%) of these sera contained HSV-1 antibody alone. Sixteen sera contained antibody against HSV but could not be typed by SW. A total of 51 2 sera were positive for HSV-2 antibody by both the EIA and SU. We conclude d that the blocking EIA and SIA showed a high level of agreement in detecti ng HSV-2 antibody in this population. In contrast to the SIA, the blocking EIA is a useful tool for large epidemiological studies, though the SW prove d to be slightly more sensitive once sera with discrepant results were furt her tested.