In situ hybridization detection of human herpesvirus 6 in biopsy specimens from Chinese patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

An in situ hybridization assay was developed for the detection of human herpesvirus 6 in formaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. This test was applied to specimens obtained from 45 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma seen in Fujian, People's Republic of China, who had been classified by the working formulation and immunohistologically characterized. Human herpesvirus 6 sequences were detected in eight of 45 (mean incidence +/- SD, 18% +/- 6%) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma tumor samples tested. The significance of human herpesvirus 6-infected cells in lymphoma tissue remains to be determined.