Evaluation of immunologic tests for the detection of ocular herpes simplex virus

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Virology
• Immunology

Background:

• Ocular herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections require accurate and rapid diagnostic methods.
• Evaluating the efficacy of various immunologic tests for detecting HSV in ocular specimens is crucial for timely treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the diagnostic performance of four immunologic tests: Herpchek (HC), latex agglutination (AGG), enzyme immunofiltration (IF), and 1-hour enzyme-linked immunoassay (1EIA) for ocular HSV detection.
• To assess the sensitivity and specificity of these tests against the gold standard of HSV-positive cell cultures.

Main Methods:

• Four immunologic tests (HC, AGG, IF, 1EIA) were performed on ocular specimens.
• Results were compared with HSV-positive cell culture findings.
• Sensitivity, specificity, and ease of interpretation were evaluated for each test.

Main Results:

• Herpchek (HC) and enzyme immunofiltration (IF) demonstrated significantly higher sensitivity (65% and 59%, respectively) compared to AGG (3%) and 1EIA (26%).
• Both HC and IF tests exhibited 100% specificity and were easy to interpret.
• Clinical diagnosis via ophthalmologic examination showed comparable sensitivity (59%) to the immunologic tests.

Conclusions:

• Herpchek (HC) is suitable for high-volume central laboratories, requiring cell culture confirmation for negative results.
• Enzyme immunofiltration (IF) is recommended for low-volume labs, with all IF samples needing confirmation via cell culture.
• Both HC and IF offer effective diagnostic capabilities for ocular HSV, with specific recommendations based on laboratory volume.