The Difference Between Herpes IgG and IgM Tests

Herpes IgG and IgM tests are laboratory tests used to detect the presence of antibodies to the herpes virus in the blood. So, what is the difference between the Herpes IgG and IgM tests? Continue reading to find out.

What is the Difference Between Herpes IgG and IgM Tests?

When a person is infected with herpes, the immune system responds by developing antibodies or immune proteins to fight the virus about 18-21 days after infection, such as IgG and IgM antibodies. Blood tests can look for these antibodies and detect their presence instead of looking for the virus itself. So, what is the difference between the Herpes IgG and IgM tests? Here's the answer:

• Timing of Antibody Detection

IgG antibodies are the most common kind but are produced by the body a short time after infection, which can take several weeks. In contrast, IgM antibodies are the first kind the body produces upon first contact with a virus or bacteria. Therefore, the Herpes IgM test can help detect a recent infection immediately after exposure (within 10 days), while the Herpes IgG test requires several weeks after exposure to detect a recent infection.

• Duration of Antibodies in the Blood

IgM antibodies appear in the early stages of infection but do not last long in the body (they may persist for only a few months) and are usually detectable only during active or recent infection. In contrast, IgG antibodies appear after some time from the initial infection but remain in the body and can be detected for a lifetime.

• Accuracy in Distinguishing Between Herpes Virus Types

The Herpes IgG test is more accurate in differentiating between Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1), which mainly causes oral herpes, and type 2 (HSV-2), which mainly causes genital herpes, compared to the Herpes IgM test.

• Infection Timing

The presence of IgG antibodies indicates current or past exposure and immunity, while the presence of IgM antibodies indicates only a recent infection.

Herpes IgG Test

The Herpes IgG test is a blood test used to detect the presence of IgG antibodies produced by the body after a period following herpes infection, but they remain in the blood for a long time.

It may take three to six weeks from the initial infection before enough IgG is produced to be detected in the test, so conducting the test earlier may result in a negative outcome unless there has been previous exposure to the herpes virus.

Generally, this test is not recommended as a general screening for everyone, but it is advised for pregnant women at risk of genital herpes infection. A positive result indicates a current or past infection with the herpes simplex virus, while a negative result means no prior exposure to herpes.

Blazma offers Herpes Simplex Virus I (HSV-I) Ab-IgG and Herpes Simplex Virus II (HSV-II) Ab-IgG tests, which do not require any special preparations.

Herpes IgM Test

The Herpes IgM test is a blood test used to detect early infection with the herpes simplex virus by searching for IgM antibodies, which are proteins produced by the body in response to a herpes infection.

This test is the first blood test that can be performed to detect herpes infection, as IgM antibodies are one of the first types of antibodies to appear after infection, but they can take up to 10 days to develop after initial infection.

Typically, the levels of these antibodies rise early in the infection and decrease over time. A positive result indicates a new or recurrent herpes infection. If the IgM test is positive and the IgG test is negative, it may indicate a new infection. If both IgG and IgM levels are elevated, it may indicate a recurrent infection.

Blazma offers Herpes Simplex Virus I (HSV-I) Ab-IgM and Herpes Simplex Virus II (HSV-II) Ab-IgM tests, which do not require any special preparations.