Evaluation of the Demonstration of Complement-Requiring Neutralizing Antibody as a Means for Early Diagnosis of Herpes Virus Infections

Abstract

Summary When guinea pigs were immunized with herpes simplex virus, complement-requiring neutralizing (CRN) antibody, which was specific, appeared 1 week later and reached a considerable level before rises of CF and noncomplement-requiring neutralizing antibodies. Examination of patient sera proved that a similar immune response occurred as a result of herpes virus infections. Normal healthy persons showed no neutralizing antibody which could be enhanced by complement to such a marked extent. Hence, the detection of CRN antibody in a single serum sample became a new method for early diagnosis of herpetic infections. Among 53 patients, whose diagnosis was not possible with usual methods, two were diagnosed as being strongly suspected of herpetic infections by the demonstration of anti-herpes CRN antibody.