A serological assay method for determining whether a subject is infected with one, both or neither of herpes simplex-1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex-2 (HSV-2) viruses, comprising: a) separately admixing at least three identical serum subsamples comprising antibodies with one of: i) cell antigens from cells uninfected with HSV-1 and HSV-2 on a physical matrix, (ii) cell antigens from HSV-I-infected cells on a physical matrix, or (iii) cell antigens from HSV-2-infected cells on a physical matrix, to form at least three serum subsample-cell antigen admixtures, and maintaining each of said admixtures for a time period sufficient for antibodies present in each of said subsamples to bind to said recited cell antigens to form incubated admixtures that contain matrix-bound antibodies and at least three preadsorbed serum subsamples; b) separating the matrix-bound antibodies from the at least three preadsorbed serum subsamples; c) separately admixing each of said separated preadsorbed serum subsamples with a mixture comprising three fixed cell populations wherein the mixture includes fixed cells uninfected by either HSV-1 or HSV-2, fixed cells infected by HSV-1, and fixed cells infected by HSV-2, and wherein the fixed cell populations are distinguishable from each other by fluorescence emissions when irradiated, and maintaining said admixtures for a time period sufficient to permit antibodies present within each preadsorbed subsample to bind to one or more of the fixed cell populations; and d) measuring the amount of binding of antibodies in each of the fixed cell populations using flow cytometry to determine with which fixed cell populations the antibodies from the preadsorbed subsamples bound, and thereby whether the subject was infected by one, both or neither of HSV-1 and HSV-2. a) separately admixing at least three identical serum subsamples comprising antibodies with one of: i) cell antigens from cells uninfected with HSV-1 and HSV-2 on a physical matrix, (ii) cell antigens from HSV-I-infected cells on a physical matrix, or (iii) cell antigens from HSV-2-infected cells on a physical matrix, to form at least three serum subsample-cell antigen admixtures, and maintaining each of said admixtures for a time period sufficient for antibodies present in each of said subsamples to bind to said recited cell antigens to form incubated admixtures that contain matrix-bound antibodies and at least three preadsorbed serum subsamples; i) cell antigens from cells uninfected with HSV-1 and HSV-2 on a physical matrix, (ii) cell antigens from HSV-I-infected cells on a physical matrix, or (iii) cell antigens from HSV-2-infected cells on a physical matrix, b) separating the matrix-bound antibodies from the at least three preadsorbed serum subsamples; c) separately admixing each of said separated preadsorbed serum subsamples with a mixture comprising three fixed cell populations wherein the mixture includes fixed cells uninfected by either HSV-1 or HSV-2, fixed cells infected by HSV-1, and fixed cells infected by HSV-2, and wherein the fixed cell populations are distinguishable from each other by fluorescence emissions when irradiated, and maintaining said admixtures for a time period sufficient to permit antibodies present within each preadsorbed subsample to bind to one or more of the fixed cell populations; and d) measuring the amount of binding of antibodies in each of the fixed cell populations using flow cytometry to determine with which fixed cell populations the antibodies from the preadsorbed subsamples bound, and thereby whether the subject was infected by one, both or neither of HSV-1 and HSV-2.