Use of immunoperoxidase for rapid diagnosis of mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus infection

Abstract

The indirect immunoperoxidase method was applied to the rapid diagnosis of [human] mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus infection. Specimens were obtained directly from lesions at various stages in their evolution. The immunoperoxidase method identified herpes simplex virus-infected cells in 91% of vesicular lesions which were positive by standard virological culture. At later stages, the number of cases that could be diagnosed decreased appreciably. The immunoperoxidase method appears to be a rapid and reliable method for the diagnosis of early herpes simplex virus infection.