Rapid isolation of herpes simplex virus by using mink lung and rhabdomyosarcoma cell cultures.

Highly sensitive and rapid results can be obtained by isolating herpes simplex virus from clinical specimens in simple cell culture with rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells. In this study, 3,186 clinical specimens were inoculated into locally produced, equivalent-age RD and mink lung (ML) cells. Of 727 positive isolates, all (100%) were isolated from RD cells and only 691 (95%) were isolated from ML cells. Furthermore, 162 of the positive isolates (22%) were isolated in RD cells earlier than in ML cells. RD cells are continuous and can be cultivated in house without decreasing sensitivity as the passage number increases. They produce a highly distinguishable cytopathic effect in response to herpes simplex virus and maintain intense confirmatory staining patterns.