Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Human herpesvirus (HHV)-7 establishes a latent infection during the lifetime of the host and can reactivate after the primary infection, leading to lytic replication in immunosuppressed patients.

METHODS:

This study aimed to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to identify HHV-7 serum antibodies and compare its performance with that of an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA).

RESULTS:

Serum samples (n=102) were tested by IgG-IFA and by ELISA. IFA and ELISA showed IgG-positive results in 77 and 73 samples, respectively. Qualitative concordance of 96% was demonstrated between the two techniques.

CONCLUSIONS:

ELISA may be useful to diagnose HHV-7 infection.

Keywords:
ELISA; IFA; HHV-7; Serological Assay