An immunofluorescence complement-fixation test for detection of human papilloma viruses in various warts and wartlike lesions of epidermodysplasia verruciformis.

Comparative studies of indirect immunofluorescence (IF) and IF complement fixation tests were performed in 11 warts induced by various human papilloma viruses (HPV) or wartlike lesions of epidermodysplasia verruciformis. For the detection of HPVs, specific immune sera against HPV1, HPV2, HPV3, HPV5, HPV9 and/or HPV8 were used. The complement-fixation test proved to be as specific as the indirect IF method for the detection of HPVs in the tissues and was superior in clarity of IF readings (no nonspecific IF staining).