RAPID DIAGNOSIS OF HERPETIC-KERATITIS USING DIRECT IMMUNOPEROXIDASE TECHNIQUE

The direct immunoperoxidase technique was tested for diagnosis of herp etic keratitis. The technique was performed on corneal epithelial spec imens from 28 herpetic keratitis cases and 12 controls. Ulcers were st ained with rose bengal or fluorescein and examined at the slit-lamp bi omicroscope to differentiate between herpetic and nonherpetic etiology . Scrapings obtained from the corneal epithelial ulcers were stained w ith direct immunoperoxidase technique. The whole procedure, including staining and examination of the slides, took a total of 70 min. The te st proved to be accurate, easy to perform and to interpret, rapid and relatively inexpensive with a sensitivity of 93%, and a specificity of 100%.