A rapid culture alternative to the shell-vial method for the detection of herpes simplex virus.

The rapid test for detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in clinical specimens based on infection of cells in suspension (SI test) was compared to the shell-vial culture (SVC) method and conventional culture. Mink lung cells were used throughout the study. Detection of HSV was not significantly different whether using SI or SVC. The sensitivity of SI in detecting HSV, when compared with conventional culture, was 93.0% using 0.1 ml inocula and 98.3% using 0.5 ml inocula. The time to obtain a final result with both SI and SVC was 1 day compared with 1-7 days by conventional culture. The SI method detected both HSV type-1 and HSV type-2 clinical isolates. The SI technique is a simple method for the rapid detection of HSV and can yield diagnostic results with a minimum of technical manipulations.