Effective Tuesday, February 5, 2013, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics core clinical chemistry laboratory will begin running the Roche Diagnostics assay for herpes simplex virus (HSV)1 and 2 IgG antibodies against glycoprotein G.  The test is “HSV 1 & 2 TYPE SPECIFIC IGG ABS” (LAB3371).

This test will provide separate results for both HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies, and will replace the existing mailout tests for HSV-1 and HSV-2 serologies.  Assay that measure antibodies against HSV glycoprotein G are an improvement over earlier generation HSV serology tests that are unable to differentiate between HSV-1 and HSV-2.

• Specimen type:	4.5 mL light green plasma separator tube (PST)
• Minimum requirements (Adult):	3 mL whole blood from one light green plasma separator tube (PST)
• Minimum requirements (Peds):	TWO light green top microtainer (pediatric patients)
• Test Availability:	24 hours/day, 7 days a week (including holidays)
• Turnaround Time:	1 hour upon receipt in laboratory

Questions should be directed to Matthew Krasowski, MD, PhD, medical director of the Clinical Chemistry Laboratory (384-9380, matthew-krasowski@uiowa.edu).