DIAGN MICROBIOL INFECT DIS 343 1984;2:343-345 Comparison of Cell Culture with an Immunoperoxidase Kit for Rapid Diagnosis of Herpes Simplex Virus Infections V.C. Salmon, Barbara K. Michaels, and Ronald B. Turner Cell culture technique using continuous mink lung cells was compared to an immunoperaxidase kit/or rapidity and sensitivity of herpes simplex virus (HSV) detection. Forty-eight hours after inoculation, 26 (65%) of 40 clinical specimens were positive for HSV by cell culture compared with 19 (48%) by immunoperoxidase staining (p < 0.001, Fisher's Exact Test). The rapid and accurate diagnosis of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is necessary in a number of clinical situations. An immunoperoxidase kit (Cultureset, Immulok, Inc. Carpenteria, CA) has been introduced for the rapid diagnosis of HSV infection. The purpose of this study was to compare the kit with a cell culture technique using a continuous mink lung cell line for sensitivity and rapidity of HSV diagnosis. The mink lung cell line has been found to be more rapid and sensitive than Vero or human fibroblast cells for isolation of HSV (Salmon VC, Stanberry LR, Overall JC, manuscript submitted). Forty clinical specimens, 31 previously positive and nine previously negative for HSV by cell culture, were studied. All specimens had been stored in McCoy's medium with 10% fetal calf serum at -70°C after the initial cell culture isolation attempt. Specimens with insufficient volume for the comparison were diluted to an adequate volume (approximately 1 ml) with Earle's minimum essential medium containing 10% fetal calf serum. Cell culture isolation was attempted using continuous mink lung cells obtained from American Type Culture Collection. For each specimen, two tubes were inoc- ulated with 0.2 ml/tube, incubated at 37°C in a stationary rack, and examined daily for 7 days for the development of typical HSV cytopathic effect. The immunoperoxidase kit was used according to the directions provided by the manufacturer. Six-tenths milliliter aliquots of each specimen were inoculated into the culture tubes. The tubes were then incubated at 37°C for 48 hr prior to immu- From the Diagnostic Virology Laboratory,a and the Departments of Pathology and Pediatrics,2 University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT. Address reprint requests to: Ronald B. Turner, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, 50 North Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84132. Received November 21, 1983; revised and accepted February 10, 1984. © 1984 Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc. 52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017 0732-8893/84/$03.00