Comparison of standard culture methods, a shell vial assay, and a DNA probe for the detection of herpes simplex virus. |
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| Authors: | L A Seal P S Toyama K M Fleet K S Lerud S R Heth A J Moorman J C Woods R B Hill |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Pathology, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii 96859-5000. |
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| Abstract: | A nonradioactive, biotinylated herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA probe, a shell vial (rabbit kidney cell) culture assay enhanced by a direct fluorescent (HSV monoclonal)-antibody stain at 16 to 20 h postinoculation, and conventional tube cultures with confirmation via HSV-specific (polyclonal antibody) immunoperoxidase assay were compared for 199 specimens. The predictive values of the positive results were 54.5% for the probe, 95.9% for the shell vial assay, and 100% for the conventional culture methods, while the predictive values of the negative tests were 68.1, 84.0, and 98.4%, respectively. We conclude that the DNA probe (sensitivity, 24.5%; specificity, 88.3%) and the shell vial assay (sensitivity, 66.2%; specificity, 98.4%) cannot be substituted for conventional tube culture techniques (sensitivity, 97.1%; specificity, 100%) in the routine identification of HSV in our laboratory. |
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