A Comparison of Nested Multiplex-Polymerase Chain Reaction with Indirect Immunofluorescence for Detection and Typing of Herpes Simplex Virus / 대한진단검사의학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is linked specifically to oral and lip infections while HSV-2 is involved in genital infections. We evaluated a recently reported nested-multiplex ploymerase chain reaction (NM-PCR) for the detection and typing of HSV and compared the results with indirect immunofluorescence (IF) after cell culture. METHODS: One hundred thirty three specimens were received from patients suspected of having clinical HSV infections. HSV was cultured by the shell vial method and stained with type specific monoclonal antibodies. NM-PCR was performed using crude samples. RESULTS: HSV was detected in 45 (33.8%) and 46 (34.6%) of the 133 specimens by IF and NMPCR, respectively. All of the HSV IF positive specimens were also positive by NM-PCR. Typing by the two methods concurred in all but two of the 45 specimens; the two specimens were typed as HSV-1 and HSN-2, respectivey, by IF, and both as HSV-1 and HSV-2 by NM-PCR. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that NM-PCR is a rapid and sensitive method for the detection and typing of HSV.