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Sex Transm Infect doi:10.1136/sti.2009.036541
  • Original Article

Comparison of Focus HerpesSelect® and KalonTM HSV-2 gG2 ELISA serological assays to detect herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) antibodies in a South African population

  1. Sinead - Delany-Moretlwe1,*,
  2. Ute Jentsch2,
  3. Helen Weiss3,
  4. Jocelyn Moyes1,
  5. Rhoda Ashley-Morrow4,
  6. Wendy Stevens2,
  7. Philippe Mayaud5
  1. 1 Reproductive Health & HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa;
  2. 2 Department of Hematology & Molecular Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, United Kingdom;
  3. 3 London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygien, South Africa;
  4. 4 University of Washington, Seattle, United States;
  5. 5 London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, South Africa
  1. Correspondence to: Sinead Delany-Moretlwe, Reproductive Health & HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, -Reproductive Health & HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, P O 18512, Hillbrow, 2038, South Africa; sdelany{at}rhru.co.za
  • Received 26 February 2009
  • Accepted 22 June 2009
  • Published Online First 16 October 2009

Abstract

Introduction: Sero-epidemiological studies of herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) infection in Africa remain difficult to interpret owing to the high rate of false-positive results observed when using the new recombinant gG2 HSV-2 ELISA tests. We compared the performance of two widely used gG2 ELISAs to derive an appropriate testing algorithm for use in South Africa.

Methods: Sera from 210 women attending family planning clinics in Johannesburg were tested using HerpeSelect® and KalonTM HSV-2 gG2 assays. Sera from 19 discordant pairs, 44 concordant positive and 33 concordant negative samples were further tested by HSV Western Blot (WB). Sensitivity and specificity of each test and of combination algorithms compared to WB were calculated.

Results: HerpeSelect® had a sensitivity of 98% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 95-100) and specificity of 61% (95%CI: 48-74). Kalon™ was less sensitive (89%, 95%CI: 83-94) but more specific (85%, 95%CI: 61-100). Seroprevalence may have been overestimated by as much as 14% by HerpeSelect®. Specificity was improved by raising the cut-off index for determination of a positive result for HerpeSelect® (to ≥3.5), but not for Kalon™. HIV-1 infection reduced the specificity of HerpeSelect® to 30%. Improved sensitivity and specificity were obtained by a two-test algorithm using HerpeSelect® (≥3.5) as the first test and Kalon™ to resolve equivocal results (sensitivity 92%, 95%CI: 82-98; specificity 91%, 95%CI: 79-98).

Conclusion: Newer HSV-2 serological tests have low specificity in this South African population with high HIV-1 prevalence. Two-step testing strategies could provide rational testing alternatives to WB.

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