Improved performance of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and the effect of human immunodeficiency virus coinfection on the serologic detection of herpes simplex virus type 2 in Rakai, Uganda.

Ugandan subjects (820) were tested by Focus HerpeSelect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Kalon herpes simplex virus type 2 ELISA, and BioKit rapid test, and the results were compared to those of Western blotting. Higher-than-standard-index cutoff values gave optimal sensitivity and specificity. Kalon ELISA was the optimal assay when an index value of 1.5 was used (sensitivity, 91.7%; specificity, 92.4%).