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A total of 442 specimens from various anatomic sites was cultured for herpes simplex virus during the past 2 years. Most specimens were obtained from the respiratory tracts and cutaneous lesions of immunocompromised hosts (232 specimens) or the female genital tract (138 specimens). Two tubes containing human newborn foreskin fibroblasts and two Ortho Cultureset tubes containing Vero cells were inoculated with each specimen. The 384 inoculated specimens were stained with Cultureset peroxidase-antiperoxidase reagents within 48 h and again at 3, 4, or 5 days if initially negative. Fibroblasts were inspected for cytopathic effect for 7 days. Of these 384 specimens, Cultureset detected 57 of 62 positive specimens within 48 h; fibroblasts detected 58 positive specimens by 7 days. The calculated sensitivity and specificity for Cultureset at 48 h were 91.9 and 100%, respectively. However, when all results were considered, including those that became positive in Cultureset after 48 h, the calculated sensitivity and specificity for Cultureset were 98.8 and 100%, respectively. We conclude that Cultureset is a reliable method for detection of herpes simplex virus when two tubes are inoculated and stained as described.

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