Herpes Simplex Virus Detection by ELISA: Effect of Enzyme Amplification, Nature of Lesion Sampled and Specimen Treatment

✍ Scribed by Anne-Louise Clayton; Carol Roberts; Dr. Shireen M. Chantler; Margaret Godley; Jennifer M. Best

• Book ID: 102908348
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1986
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 612 KB
• Volume: 20
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0146-6615
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.1890200111

✦ Synopsis

The relative sensitivity of two enzyme detection procedures was investigated in a simultaneous "monoclonal" ELISA for herpes simplex virus (HSV). A cyclical enzyme amplified detection system with alkaline phosphatase, rather than horse-radish peroxidase and a conventional chromogenic substrate, gave an increase in absolute sensitivity and a 20 to 30% increase in the detection of HSV in routine isolation-positive genital specimens collected in transport medium. The HSV detection rate, with both procedures, was shown to vary with the site and clinical stage of lesion sampled; it was highest with penile vesicular lesions. Direct extraction of the swab specimen in a small volume of diluent further increased the sensitivity of antigen detection giving positive and negative predictive values of 100 and 96% respectively. The overall sensitivity of HSV detection was equivalent to that obtained by isolation in cell culture. The amplified ELISA offers an alternative, rapid, simple, non-culture technique for routine HSV diagnosis that does not rely upon retention of virus viability.