title: Enhancement of varicella-zoster virus plaquing efficiency with an agarose overlay medium.
abstract: The infectivity titers of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) are routinely estimated by plaque production in cell culture. In this report, we show that plaque counts for VZV (strain Oka/Merck), in MRC-5 cell cultures, are significantly enhanced (54% average enhancement) by the use of an agarose overlay medium, as compared to a fluid overlay medium. Evidence also is presented that less variability (P less than 0.05) in plaque counts occurs with the use of an agarose overlay medium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virus and Cell Biology, Merck Sharp and Dohme Research Laboratories, West Point, PA 19486.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Krah
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Provost
mesh_terms: D003470:Culture Media; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000254:growth & development*; D012685:Sepharose; D013696:Temperature; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D012685:Sepharose