The HSV IgM and IgG Test Device is a rapid chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detections of IgM or IgG antibodies to HSV virus in whole blood, serum or plasma specimens.

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HSV-1 is usually associated with infection in oropharyngeal area and eyes, while HSV-2 causes mostly genital and neonatal infections, however, the tissue specificity is not absolute. HSV-2 can be isolated occasionally from the oropharynx and 5 - 10% of primary genital infections may be caused by HSV-1. Infants infected with HSV appear normal at birth, but almost invariably develop symptoms during the newborn period. Neonatal HSV infection may remain localized or become disseminated. Localized infection may involve one or a combination of sites. These are skin, eye, mouth or the central nervous system. Disseminated infection is manifested by pneumonitis, hepatitis, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and encephalitis. Of the infants with neonatal HSV, about one half of those surviving will develop severe neurological or ocular sequelae. A number of serological procedures have been developed to detect antibodies to HSV. Antibody of the IgM class is produced during the first 2 - 3 weeks of infections with HSV and exists only transiently in most patients. Antibodies of IgG will keep in the body for a long time. Serologic procedures, which measure the presence of IgM antibodies, help discriminate between primary and recurrent infections, since IgM antibodies is rarely found in recurrent infections.