Table of Contents

Component Description

Sera from consenting children age 6-13 years examined in NHANES 1999-2002 were tested for antibodies to Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 (HSV-1) using a solid-phase enzymatic immunodot assay. Purified glycoprotein specific for HSV-1 (gG-1) was used as antigen. All results in this data release are reported as positive or negative or indeterminate.

Eligible Sample

All participants 6-13 years from NHANES 1999-2002 who gave consent for further testing using stored sera (n = 3,115).

Description of Laboratory Methodology

Although extensive antigenic cross-reactivity exists between the two viral types of herpes, a viral glycoprotein specific for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) (designated gG-2), and a glycoprotein specific for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) (designated gG-1) have been identified. Monoclonal antibodies and affinity chromatography have been used to purify these glycoproteins and thus provide antigens for type-specific herpes serologic assays. Solid-phase enzymatic immunodot assays are used to detect antibodies reactive to these antigens. The purified glycoprotein gG-1 is adsorbed to the center of a nitrocellulose disk. The rest of the disk surface is coated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) to prevent further nonspecific protein adsorption. Incubation of test serum with the disk allows specific antibodies, if present, to bind to the immobilized antigen. After extensive washing to remove non-reactive antibodies, the bound antibodies are detected by sequential treatment with peroxidase-conjugated goat-anti-human IgG and the enzyme substrate (H2O2 with chromogen 4-chloro-1-naphthol). A positive reaction is demonstrated by the appearance of a blue dot at the center of the disk. Serum reactive to an immunodot charged with gG-1 indicates previous and probable latent HSV-1 infection.

Data Processing and Editing

Data was received after all the antibody testing was complete. The data were not edited.

Data Access: All data are publicly available.

Laboratory Quality Assurance and Monitoring

Assay performance was monitored throughout the testing period by testing positive and negative controls derived from reference sera. gG-1 immunodot results were run in duplicate and 2% were randomly repeated.

Analytic Notes

SSHSVGG1 (HSV-1 antibody)
1= positive
2= negative
3= indeterminate

Subsample Weights

Sample weights are required to analyze these data properly. Specific sample weights for this subsample are included in this data file and should be used when analyzing these data. When observations were removed from this data file, new sample weights were created and  added to this data file (WTSSHS2Y, WTSSHS4Y). Please refer to the NHANES Analytic Guidelines and the on-line NHANES Tutorial for further details on the use of sample weights and other analytic issues.

References

Codebook and Frequencies

SEQN - Respondent sequence number

Variable Name:
SEQN
SAS Label:
Respondent sequence number
English Text:
Respondent sequence number.
Target:
Both males and females 6 YEARS - 13 YEARS

WTSSHS2Y - SSHSV1 2 year weights

Variable Name:
WTSSHS2Y
SAS Label:
SSHSV1 2 year weights
English Text:
Surplus specimen SSHSV1 2 year weights
Target:
Both males and females 6 YEARS - 13 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
2498.049081 to 246248.92096 Range of Values 1211 1211
0 No lab specimen 0 1211
. Missing 0 1211

WTSSHS4Y - SSHSV1 4 year weights 99-02

Variable Name:
WTSSHS4Y
SAS Label:
SSHSV1 4 year weights 99-02
English Text:
Surplus specimen SSHSV1 4 year weights 99-02
Target:
Both males and females 6 YEARS - 13 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1305.145229 to 115481.05496 Range of Values 1211 1211
0 No lab specimen 0 1211
. Missing 0 1211

SSXHE1 - Herpes I

Variable Name:
SSXHE1
SAS Label:
Herpes I
English Text:
Herpes I antibody
Target:
Both males and females 6 YEARS - 13 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 positive 516 516
2 negative 694 1210
3 indeterminate 1 1211
. Missing 0 1211