EVALUATION OF A MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY FOR DETECTION OF VARICELLA-ZOSTERVIRUS-INFECTIONS USING A SHELL VIAL TECHNIQUE

Standard cell culture and a shell vial technique using a monoclonal an tibody were compared for the detection of varicella-zoster virus in 16 7 mucocutaneous specimens. Of 75 specimens from patients clinically di agnosed with varicella or tester, a total of 40 (53.3%) were positive by either method (4 positive only by conventional culture and 4 only b y shell vial). No false-positive results were obtained with shell vial s stained after 48 h of incubation. This technique is rapid, 100% spec ific, and should be a good alternative to cell culture. Both technique s are equally influenced by antiviral treatment or by the time of evol ution of disease.