Double labeling of SIgG+ cells harboring a lymphotropic herpesvirus by avidin-biotin complex immunoperoxidase and immunogold-silver staining techniques.

By reversing the usual order of double-staining procedures, we obtained optimal conditions for simultaneous detection of guinea pig lymphotropic herpesvirus (GPHLV) and surface immunoglobulin G-positive (SIgG+) cells in paraffin-embedded tissue sections. Of the different fixatives tested, Bouin's solution gave the best preservation of morphology and cell surface IgG. Double immunolabeling was best achieved when avidin-biotin complex immunoperoxidase (ABC-IP) staining was performed first for detection of intracellular viral antigen, followed by immunogold-silver staining (IGSS) for localization of cell surface IgG.