Elsevier

The Lancet

Volume 335, Issue 8687, 24 February 1990, Pages 440-441
The Lancet

MEDICAL SCIENCE
Rapid detection of herpes-simplex-virus DNA in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with herpes simplex encephalitis

https://doi.org/10.1016/0140-6736(90)90667-TGet rights and content

Abstract

Herpes-simplex-virus (HSV) DNA in cerebrospinal fluid was amplified by use of the polymerase chain reaction and identified by hybridisation to a specific oligonucleotide probe. Specimens of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 4 of 4 patients with herpes simplex encephalitis were positive for HSV DNA, whereas CSF specimens from 6 patients with other central-nervous-system infections were negative. This technique may expedite diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis.

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