Summary
Improvements to the immunofluorescent identification of common virus infections of the skin are described. These include preliminary incubation of the clinical specimen in tissue cultures of mixed cell type for 16 hours; transfer of the cells from the original container to microscope slides; incorporation of a counterstain into the immunofluorescent serum; modifications to the standard exciter filters on the fluorescence microscope.
These changes in technique produce excellent, easily read specimens within 24 hours in which the cellular elements have normal morphology and in which the common pathogenic viruses of the skin can easily be identified. The virus-infected cells are recognized from their green immunofluorescent staining, and contrast well against a background of red-brown negative cells. The method eliminates the dangers which are inherent in the direct immunofluorescent examination of skin-scrapings.
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Sommervillc, R.G. A rapid and reliable immunofluorescent method for the identification of common virus infections of the skin. Archiv f Virusforschung 26, 97–104 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01241179
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01241179