Description: The Herpes Types 1 & 2 test is a blood test used to detect IgG antibodies specific to HSV types 1 and/or 2 infection; confirm or rule out possible infection with herpes simplex types 1 and/or 2 virus in prenatal patients in whom HSV 2 infection can cause serious prenatal disease. Per CDC guidelines, specimens with equivocal or low positive results for HSV-2 type specific IgG will reflex for supplemental testing by another assay.

In a patient with no history of lesion disease, a positive result for this test may be indicative that the primary infection was asymptomatic. Once infected by HSV, it is possible for a patient to shed virus without the development of lesions (asymptomatic shedding). This test does not indicate the site of HSV infection. The magnitude of the Index Value is not indicative of the amount of antibody present in the patient sample. There is a considerable homology between HSV-1 and HSV-2 antigens, so that antibodies formed against either virus are highly cross-reactive. These assays are based on purified recombinant glycoprotein G-1 (HSV-1) or G-2 (HSV-2) antigens.