[Virologic diagnosis of cutaneomucous herpes]

The virological diagnosis of herpes simplex infection rests on the demonstration of the virus or its constituents in lesions of the skin and/or mucous membranes. The reference method is isolation of the virus in cell cultures, but the recent development of enzyme immunoassays has led to a rapid and highly specific diagnosis. The present possibility of a selective and affective treatment enhances the value of an accurate virological diagnosis.