Description
NAME AND INTENDED USE
The Calbiotech HSV-2 IgG ELISA Kit is intended for the detection of IgG antibody to HSV-2 in human serum or plasma.
SUMMARY AND EXPLANATION OF THE TEST
HSV-1 and 2 are virtually identical, sharing approximately 50% of their DNA and have over 80% of common antigens. Both types infect the body’s mucosal surfaces, usually the mouth or genitals, and then establish latency in the nervous system. For both types, at least two-thirds of infected people have no symptoms, or symptoms too mild to notice. However, both types can recur and spread even when no symptoms are present. By the time they’re teenagers or young adults, about 50% of Americans have HSV-1 antibodies in their blood. By the time they are over age 50, some 80-90% of Americans has HSV-1 antibodies. By comparison, almost all HSV-2 is encountered after childhood, when people become sexually active. HSV type 1 is the cause of most orofacial herpes and HSV encephalitis; type 2 is the primary cause of initial and recurrent genital herpes and neonatal HSV. Reactivation of latent HSV infection is a frequent complication of immunosuppression due to cancer, transplantation and AIDS.Asymptomatic genital shedding of HSV-2 is more common than HSV-1 and occurs more frequently during the first 3 months after acquisition of primary type 2 disease than during later periods.
The presence of HSV IgG antibody is indicative of previous exposure A significant increases in HSV IgG is an indicative of reactivation, current or recent infection. IgM antibody is present after primary HSV infection.
PRINCIPLE OF THE TEST
Diluted patient serum is added to wells coated with purified antigen. IgG specific antibody, if present, binds to the antigen. All unbound materials are washed away and the enzyme conjugate is added to bind to the antibody-antigen complex, if present. Excess enzyme conjugate is washed off and substrate is added. The plate is incubated to allow the hydrolysis of the substrate by the enzyme. The intensity of the color generated is proportional to the amount of IgG specific antibody in the sample.
