Centrifugation-shell vial technique for rapid detection of herpes simplex virus cytopathic effect in Vero cells

A centrifugation-shell vial technique for herpes simplex virus detected the virus in 50 (24.6%) of 203 specimens by cytopathic effect at 48 h, compared with detection of the virus in 47 (23.2%) specimens by immunofluorescence at 24 h. The rapid detection of cytopathic effect may be useful to laboratories that are not interested in typing all herpes simplex virus specimens but that wish to reduce the cost of herpesvirus cultures.