Improved detection of varicella zoster infection with a spin amplification shell vial technique and blind passage.
BACKGROUND
Among the methods available for the diagnosis of varicella zoster virus (VZV) infections, only tissue culture yields an isolate available for antiviral susceptibility testing or pathogenesis studies. However, conventional tube tissue culture (TC) has a low sensitivity.


OBJECTIVE
To increase the recovery rate of VZV in tissue culture.


METHODS
Clinical specimens submitted for VZV isolation were processed by TC and rapid shell vial (SV) techniques followed by a blind passage (BP). For SV, two incubation times and two mAbs, directed against viral-early or immediate-early antigens, were compared.


RESULTS
Isolation of VZV using the SV stained at 72 h postinoculation was more sensitive (88-96%) than TC (50-67%), or the SV technique at 48 h (66-70%). It was also more rapid than TC (9.6 days). The comparison of mAbs yielded similar results in SV. Blind passage of SV at 7 days postinoculation further increased detection.


CONCLUSIONS
SV combined with BP is the method of choice for VZV isolation.
Weinberg
A
A
University of Colorado School of Medicine, Box C 227, 4200 East Ninth Ave., Denver, CO 80262, USA.
Clark
J C
JC
Schneider
S A
SA
Forghani
B
B
Levin
M J
MJ