Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) Antibodies, IgG

Serum

1 mL

0.5 mL (Note: This volume does not allow for repeat testing.)

Red-top tube or gel-barrier tube

Aid in the diagnosis of past infection/exposure to roseola infantum; may be useful in diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome

This procedure may be considered by Medicare and other carriers as investigational and, therefore, may not be payable as a covered benefit for patients.

Enzyme immunoassay (EIA)

• Negative: <0.90 index

• Equivocal: 0.90−1.10 index

• Positive: >1.10 index

Fourfold rises in titer are suggestive of either recent, primary, or reactivated infection. The presence of elevated titers to HHV-6 in the absence of responses to HAV, HBV, CMV, and EMV suggests that titer results are associated with high specificity.

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) has recently been identified as the agent associated with both pediatric and adult infections. Most children have been infected by age three. The acute infection in children is characterized clinically by an acute febrile illness, irritability, inflammation of tympanic membranes, and (uncommonly) a rash characteristic of roseola.

In adults, HHV-6 has been associated with chronic fatigue and spontaneously resolving fever resembling a mononucleosis-like illness. During the acute episode an elevated IgM HHV-6 is useful. An increase in IgG HHV-6 between acute and convalescent serum sample is consistent with a recent HHV-6 infection.