Comparison of virus culture and direct immunofluorescent staining of cytocentrifuged virus transport medium for detection of varicella-zoster virus in skin lesions.

Direct immunofluorescent staining of centrifuged viral transport medium (CVTM) was compared with conventional cell culture for the detection of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in 87 dermal lesions from 84 patients. A total of 21 (24%) were positive for VZV; 8 (38%) of these were positive by culture and CVTM, 13 (62%) by CVTM alone, and none by culture only. Virus cultures were positive for VZV in an average of 9.1 days (range, 4-20 days). CVTM, using cytocentrifugation, is more sensitive and rapid than conventional cell culture for the detection of VZV in cutaneous specimens.