title: Increased detection of herpes simplex virus in MRC-5 cells treated with dimethyl sulfoxide and dexamethasone.
abstract: Treatment of MRC-5 cells with dexamethasone, dimethyl sulfoxide, or a combination of the two enhanced the detection of herpes simplex virus by three- to fourfold in these cells. Fluorescent plaques were noticeably larger on cover slips treated with the enhancing agents. Low-positive clinical specimens were stored and tested in parallel in treated and untreated shell vials, and 6 to 40% of these stained positive in the treated cultures but not in the untreated controls. In standard tube cultures, cytopathic effect began earlier and was more extensive in treated tubes.
authors.affiliation: SmithKline Bio-Science Laboratories, Norristown, Pennsylvania 19403.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aldrich
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hartwig
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Haller
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002460:Cell Line; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide