Use of immunoperoxidase on brain tissue for the rapid diagnosis of herpes encephalitis.

An indirect immunoperoxidase method to detect herpes simplex viral antigen in brain cell suspensions from patients suspected to have herpes encephalitis is described. The method is rapid, reliable and specific, and successfully identified the herpes virus infected cells in four of five culture-proven cases. There was one false-negative reaction, but no false-positive. The immunoperoxidase technic offers a number of advantages over immunofluorescence for routine diagnosis.