Screening for Genital Herpes Simplex: Table 1. Comparison of Commercial HSV Type-Specific Antibody Tests

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Information/ Features	Tests
Information/ Features	HerpeSelect® ELISA kit	HerpeSelect® Immunoblot kit	Herpes Western Blot Assay
Manufacturer	Focus Technologies	Focus Technologies	University of Washington
FDA approved	Yes (2000)	Yes (2000)	NA (considered research "gold standard")
Antibodies detected	HSV-1 or HSV-2	HSV-1 and HSV-2	HSV-1 and/or HSV-2
Sensitivity	96%-100%	87%-100%	> 99%
Specificity	97%-100%	98%	> 99%
Collection method	Blood draw (sent to lab)	Blood draw (sent to lab)	Blood draw (sent to University of Washington)
Test location	Various labs	Various labs	University of Washington Virology Department
Result time	1-2 weeks	1-2 weeks	2 weeks
Can be used during pregnancy	Yes	Yes	Yes
Cost of test	$40-$80	$80-$160	$130
Notes: ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; FDA, Food and Drug Administration; HSV, herpes simplex virus; NA, not available. Sources: Adapted from Ashley RL. Sorting out the new HSV type-specific tests. Sex Transm Infect 2001;77:232-7, and the Herpes Resource Center of the American Social Health Association, June 2003.