Quest Diagnostics Test

[MMK756]

Hi Terri,

I have a few questions about the current Herpes test used by Quest Diagnostics (HSV 1/2 IGG,TYPE SPECIFIC AB):

1. Is this test possibly impacted by Biotin use?

2. Is this test considered an ELISA test?

3. I saw you mentioned a while back that Quest may change brands from the Herpeselect to DiaSorin and that we don’t yet know the effectiveness of the DiaSorin test. Was this change ever made or is the Quest Diagnostics HSV 1/2 IGG,TYPE SPECIFIC AB test still the Herpeselect test?

Thank you for your time!

[Terri Warren]

1. Is this test possibly impacted by Biotin use?
I honestly don’t know the answer to that question. I think it is possible

2. Is this test considered an ELISA test?
yes

3. I saw you mentioned a while back that Quest may change brands from the Herpeselect to DiaSorin and that we don’t yet know the effectiveness of the DiaSorin test. Was this change ever made or is the Quest Diagnostics HSV 1/2 IGG,TYPE SPECIFIC AB test still the Herpeselect test?
At this point, I don’t know which test they are doing, but an article published online recently does show a very high rate of false positives in the low positive range on the test that they are currently doing.

Terri

[MMK756]

Also,

The Quest Diagnostics site states “Methodology: Immunoassay (IA)” for this test. Is this the same as the ELISA?

It looks like “immunoassay” is a broad term and the ELISA is a type of immunoassay. Am I understanding this correctly?

[MMK756]

I do have one last question:

When you mention “an article published online recently does show a very high rate of false positives in the low positive range on the test that they are currently doing.” Does this apply to both HSV 1 and 2 results from Quest Diagnostics?

[MMK756]

Final questions:

1. When you mention “an article published online recently does show a very high rate of false positives in the low positive range on the test that they are currently doing.” Does this apply to both HSV 1 and 2 results from Quest Diagnostics?

2. I was tested at Quest Diagnostics (HSV 1/2 IGG,TYPE SPECIFIC AB) and it came back with HSV 1: 1.07 Equivocal. 14 days later I tested again and it came back as Negative <.90.

I’ve had this test done prior to the equivocal test and always tested negative but had this one recent equivocal followed by another negative. That being said, do you suggest the Western Blot? If so, how long to wait from exposure do I wait for WB?

Or, do you think my HSV 1 is likely negative?

Thank you for your help!

[Terri Warren]

1. When you mention “an article published online recently does show a very high rate of false positives in the low positive range on the test that they are currently doing.” Does this apply to both HSV 1 and 2 results from Quest Diagnostics?
More to HSV 2 than HSV 1 but I am increasingly seeing false positive HSV 1 results as well.

2. I was tested at Quest Diagnostics (HSV 1/2 IGG,TYPE SPECIFIC AB) and it came back with HSV 1: 1.07 Equivocal. 14 days later I tested again and it came back as Negative <.90. I’ve had this test done prior to the equivocal test and always tested negative but had this one recent equivocal followed by another negative. That being said, do you suggest the Western Blot? If so, how long to wait from exposure do I wait for WB? I think your HSV 1 is likely negative BUT the IgG test for HSV 1 misses 30% of HSV 1 infections, compared to the western blot and it misses 8% of HSV 2 infections, compared to the western blot Terri Or, do you think my HSV 1 is likely negative?

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