title: Herpes simplex virus detection by ELISA: effect of enzyme amplification, nature of lesion sampled and specimen treatment.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010413:Penis / Q000382:microbiology; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling; D014844:Vulva / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase