Evaluation of a rapid latex slide agglutination test for herpes simplex virus as a specimen screen and culture identification method.

A total of 449 clinical specimens and 199 culture fluids were tested using the Virogen Herpes Slide Test (Wampole Laboratories, Div. Carter-Wallace, Inc., Cranbury, N.J.), a rapid latex agglutination procedure. The results were compared with those obtained with isolation of herpes simplex virus in cell culture followed by identification using immunoperoxidase or fluorescent reagents. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the direct test were 49.7, 93.4, 96.0, and 37.1%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the latex agglutination test for culture confirmation were 75.9 and 100%, respectively.