Performance of the Focus ELISA test for detection of herpes simplex virus type-2-specific antibodies in Chinese STD patients

Comparison of three commercial immunoassays for detection of herpes simplex virus type 2 antibodies in commercial sex workers in Yunnan Province, China

Five hundred commercial sex workers in China were tested for herpes simplex virus type 2 by three immunoassays and Western blotting. Sensitivities for the Focus, Kalon, and Biokit assays were 86.7%, 82.3%, and 34.9%, respectively, and specificities were 91.8%, 94.2%, and 60.1%, respectively. The Focus assay performed optimally at an index of 1.5 (95.2% sensitivity and 93.4% specificity), and the Kalon assay performed optimally at an index of 1.2 (93.3% sensitivity and 95.2% specificity).

Herpes simplex virus 2 infection in women attending an antenatal clinic in Fuzhou, China

Genital herpes caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the most common cause of genital ulcer disease (GUD) in developed and developing countries. The monitoring of HSV-2 seroprevalence in pregnant women can identify women at a higher risk of HIV and of neonatal HSV transmission. Very few data are available on type specific seroprevalence of HSV-2 in China, with only one previous study from southern China. Consequently, we conducted a survey to determine type specific seroprevalence of HSV-2 and associated risk factors in Fuzhou City, eastern China.