Typing of herpes simplex virus by capture biotin-streptavidin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and comparison with restriction endonuclease analysis and immunofluorescence method using monoclonal antibodies

A sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent capture assay using biotin and streptavidin (capture B/SA ELISA) was developed using type-specific monoclonal antibodies for typing of herpes simplex virus. Rabbit anti-herpes simplex virus immunoglobulin G was used as the capturing antibody, and biotin-linked type-1-specific mouse monoclonal antibody or rabbit type-1 or type-2-specific polyclonal antibody served as the detecting antibody. The captured antigen was detected by an ELISA with alkaline phosphatase-conjugated streptavidin, which reacted with biotin molecules on the detector antibody. The capture B/SA ELISA was compared with other methods for efficiency and reliability in typing. Results obtained by restriction endonuclease digestion of the radiolabeled viral genome were used to determine the type (1 or 2) of clinical isolates. These results were then used as a reference for determining the accuracy of the capture B/SA ELISA, as well as that of the immunofluorescence method, both of which are easily adaptable for use in the clinical laboratory. The three methods were in perfect agreement. It was determined that both the capture B/SA ELISA and the immunofluorescence method using monoclonal antibodies provided typing results with 100% specificity and 100% sensitivity and thus were accurate and reliable. However, the ELISA was the method of choice because of its simplicity, rapidity, and use of nonradioisotopic reagents.