Abstract: Objective To compare the validity of four commercially available ELISA kits for detecting HSV-2 type-specific IgG antibodies. Methods A total of 125 serum specimens were collected from 105 patients with genital ulcers and 20 normal individuals without history of STDs. Four ELISA kits which are commercially available in China for the detection of HSV-2 type-specific IgG antibodies were selected for the evaluation. Western blot assay was used as the gold standard. Results Based on the results of detection by Western blot assay, the sensitivity and specificity of these ELISA kits including home-made 1, home-made 2, improted 1 and improted 2 were 13.1% and 98.4%, 7.5% and 100%, 100% and 11.1%, 87.7% and 96.7%, respectively. The areas under the ROC curve of three kits including home-made 1, imported 1 and imported 2 were 0.885 (0.822-0.948), 0.852 (0.747-0.902), 0.947 (0.950-0.998), respectively. Conclusions The results of imported 2 are well consistent with those of Western blot, while the results of other 3 kits are poorly consistent with those of Western blot. It is also indicated that the commercially available ELISA kits for detecting HSV-2 type-specific antibodies should be re-evaluated in terms of their validity befor being applied for the clinical diagnosis as well as laboratory research.

Key words: Herpes virus 2, human, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot