Herpes 1 IgM (IFA)
Sample: Serum
Schedule: Daily, Immunofluorescence (IFA)
Units: Titer
Range: A positive IgM titer may indicate current infection.
Remarks: Primary HSV (Herpes Simplex virus) infection produces a classical antibody rising titer. HSV test is most useful after the 4th day of ilness in herpes encephalitis. About 90% of adults have positive HSV IgG test while a fourfold increase in the IgM titer may indicate recent HSV infection. There is an increased cross reaction of HSV-1 and HSV-2 responce. HSV-2 is most common in genital viral infections and HSV-1 in non-genital infections.
