The Herpes Simplex Virus II – IgM Test is a blood test used to detect HSV-2 infection. Unlike the direct detection of the virus, this test identifies IgM antibodies, which are immune proteins produced by the body in response to a recent HSV-2 infection.
IgM antibodies appear shortly after the infection and indicate a recent or active infection. In contrast, IgG antibodies develop later and remain in the body for life, signifying past exposure. While the IgG test helps detect previous infections, the IgM test is specifically useful for identifying recent HSV-2 infections.