DIFFERENTIAL IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION FOR HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPING INROUTINE SKIN BIOPSIES

A herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2 specific recombinant plasmid probe designated pH(2)S3 was constructed from non-HSV-1 crossreactive regio ns of the HSV-2 genome. DNA in situ hybridization on in vitro reconstr ucted tissue samples of sheep collagen matrix impregnated with herpes virus-infected human cells was used to demonstrate absence of crossrea ctivity of the pH(2)S3 probe with HSV-1 and varicella tester virus und er stringent posthybridization washing conditions. It was demonstrated that DNA in situ hybridization with pH(2)S3 allows specific detection of HSV-2 in routine formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded patient materia l.