Evaluation of the ELVIS plate method for the detection and typing of herpes simplex virus in clinical specimens.

This study was conducted to assess the reliability of a commercial enzyme-linked viral inducible system (ELVIS) (Diagnostic Hybrids, Inc., Athens, OH) for rapid detection and typing of herpes simplex virus (HSV). Results using ELVIS were compared to those of shell vial culture (SVC) and HSV detection with monoclonal antibodies and an immunoperoxidase stain plus typing with MicroTrak direct fluorescent antibodies (Trinity Biotech PLC, Wicklow, Ireland). Specimens yielding discrepant HSV results were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR); those with discrepant typing results were stained with Simulfluor (Chemicon, Temecula, CA). Of the 206 samples tested, 144 were negative and 54 were HSV-positive by both methods (agreement, 96.1%). Five specimens were positive by ELVIS but negative by SVC; 3 of these were positive and 2 were negative by HSV PCR. Both of the latter were the result of mechanical problems early in the study. Three specimens were positive by SVC but negative by ELVIS; all 3 were positive by HSV PCR. After resolution of discrepancies, the sensitivity and specificity for detection of HSV were 95.0% and 100% for SVC, respectively, and 95.0% and 98.6% for ELVIS. Of the 46 HSV-positive samples that were typed, 26 were called type 2 and 18 were type 1 by both methods (agreement, 95.7%). The 2 specimens with discrepant results were called HSV-2 by SVC, staining with MicroTrak, and HSV-1 with ELVIS; both of these were type 2 when stained with the Simulfluor reagent. ELVIS is a reliable alternative to SVC for rapid detection and typing of HSV.