Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of herpes simplex virus-specific IgM antibodies.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-specific IgM in human serum could be detected by a microplate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, using extracts of HSV-infected cells as antigen. Peroxidase-conjugated anti-human IgM was used to detect human IgM bound to viral antigen. Pretreatment of sera with protein A-bearing staphylococcus or with aggregated human IgG was necessary to eliminate false-positive results caused by the presence of rheumatoid factor. Specificity controls included sera of patients with other herpes group virus infections.