Are serologic tests overrated?
Multiple laboratory tests are available to diagnose HSV infections. Molecular techniques are now the gold standard, but viral culture, direct immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, and serology are also performed.1 Although serologic results are often presented as being of major importance, this form of testing has substantial deficiencies and needs to be specifically addressed. Both the FDA and CDC prefer tests that detect viral glycoprotein-G specific for HSV-1 (gG1) and HSV-2 (gG2). The glycoproteins are located on the viral surfaces and on the surfaces of virus-infected cells. There are at least four type-specific serologic assays based on these glycoproteins, including glycoprotein G-based type-specific herpes tests, type-specific blood tests, HerpeSelect HSV-1 and HSV-2 enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assays, and HerpeSelect immunoblot. (For more information on HerpeSelect tests, see www.herpeselect.com.) The POCkit HSV-2 test was designed to rapidly detect HSV-2 ant
