Rapid immunofluorescence staining of human renal biopsy specimens using microwave irradiation.

approach, however, should be to collect epithelial cells without excess vesicle fluid, because this may contain viral antigens that react with the monoclonal antibodies and produce a green haze over the slide, making it difficult to interpret. On the other hand, once the lesion is ulcerated, infected cells are-less numerous, and numbers sufficient to provide an adequate sample difficult to obtain, their collection proving painful for the patient. Despite these problems, however, the value of the direct test seems obvious. Apart from its ability to give a result within 30 minutes of the specimen being taken, it was found to be sensitive if an adequate specimen was obtained; and there was only one occasion on which the direct test was positive but HSV was not isolated in culture. HSV was isolated, however, from this patient on a second sampling. The typing ofHSV by the direct test was also specific. We do not forsee this technique replacing cell culture procedures, but it seems logical to use the two in combination; a sample taken for examination in cell culture at the same time as one for the direct test could be discarded if the latter specimen was adequate, which our results indicate would occur in about 40% of cases. References