Comparative evaluation of microplate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay versus plaque reduction assay for antiviral susceptibility testing of herpes simplex virus isolates

Abstract

We tested the antiviral susceptibilities of 30 clinical isolates of herpes simplex virus using the microplate in situ enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MISE) and the plaque reduction assay (PRA). There was concordance for 26 of 30 acyclovir results and all 30 foscarnet results. MISE and PRA results each predicted the response to acyclovir in 12 of 14 instances and the response to foscarnet in 8 instances. MISE is more rapid than PRA, has an objective endpoint, and correlates well with the clinical response to therapy.