Performance of the focus and kalon enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein G in culture-documented cases of genital herpes

Glycoprotein G-based herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays from Focus and Kalon were performed with specimens from 118 patients with culture-documented genital herpes episodes, and their results were compared. Sensitivity was 52% by Kalon and 86% by Focus for first RSV-2 episodes and 100% (for each of the two tests) for recurrent RSV-2. Median times to seroconversion were 120 days by the Kalon assay, 21 days by the Focus assay, and 68 days by Western blotting assay. Values for specificity were 100% (Kalon) and 93% (Focus).