Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) I & II Antibodies, IgG, Index, Serum

HSV-I and HSV-II are members of the family Herpesviridae, subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae, genera Simplexvirus. HSV is thought to be transmitted from person to person as cell-free virus. Abrasions help HSV gain access to living cells below the keratinised debris on skin surfaces. Subsequent to epithelial infection, HSV enters sensory nerve endings and ascends in a retrograde manner to neuronal cell bodies in ganglia. The neurones become productively infected, and virus is transmitted across synapses. A further consequence of ganglionic infection is the establishment of latency in a variable number of neurones. After reactivation from latency, which can lead to either sub-clinical shedding or symptoms and lesions, viral components travel down the axon and assemble for further transmission to epithelial cells. It is believed that acquired immunity, NK cells, and CD8 T cells in particular, may be important in both initial control and suppression of reactivation at the level of the ganglia.

HSV specific IgG antibodies do not confer immunity against re-infection or viral reactivation. The detection of these antibodies is used in the diagnosis of HSV infection. However, this test cannot differentiate between type I and type II HSV infections. Serum antibody responses are typically broad, reacting with envelope glycoproteins and tegument, and capsid proteins. Limited data suggest that symptomatic HSV-infected individuals may have higher levels of antibody than asymptomatic but sero-positive individuals.

1 ml Serum Room Temperature Stability: 14 Days at 2-8 °C

Negative: <0.9 Equivocal: 0.9-1.1 Positive:>1.1