[Evaluation of 2 commercial monoclonal antibody kits for the identification of herpes simplex virus].

Two commercial monoclonal antibody kits (Virgo and Mikrotrak for the identification of Herpes simplex virus (HSV) have been assessed. In 65 positive HSV cultures from clinical samples, 25 strains (38%) were identified as HSV1 with both kits. The Virgo kit identified 37 strains (57%) as HSV2, and did not identify the remaining 3 (5%). With the Microtrak kit, 34 strains (52%) corresponded to type 2, 2 (3%) strains remained nonidentified, and in the remaining 4 isolates (6%) both viral types were identified. The concordance between the two evaluated kits was complete in 86% of strains. In the five strains not identified by immunofluorescence, genome analysis was carried out with endonucleases: Hind III and Xho I. Two of these isolates were identified as HVS1, another as HSV2, and in the remaining two both viral types were identified. Overall 6 mixed infections (9%) were detected, 4 with the Microtrak kit and endonucleases and 2 with only the latter method. The Microtrak system shows some advantages such as quickness, easy readings and the possibility to diagnose infections where both types of virus participate.