HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS II (HSV)-IgM Detail

The HSV-II IgM test is a blood test used to detect Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies produced by the immune system in response to a recent or primary infection with Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 (HSV-2) — the virus most commonly associated with genital herpes.

A positive HSV-II IgM result may indicate:

• Recent exposure to HSV-2

• An active or primary infection

• In some cases, viral reactivation

However, HSV-II IgM tests have certain limitations:

• Cross-reactivity with HSV-1 may occur

• They may produce false positives or fail to distinguish between new and recurrent infections

• They cannot definitively differentiate HSV-1 from HSV-2 without type-specific IgG testing