Early Use of Indirect Immunofluorescence for the Detection of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in HEp-2 Cell Culture

Respiratory syncytial virus is detected in cell culture by the presence of cytopathic effect. To detect RSV before cytopathic effect is usually seen, slides were evaluated retrospectively from 482 HEp-2 cell cultures on days 2-4 after inoculation. Indirect immunofluorescent staining detected RSV in 57 of 94 cultures that eventually were found positive by cytopathic effect. In an additional 19 cases that ultimately showed no cytopathic effect, RSV also was detected. In 15 of the latter cases, the presence of RSV was confirmed in the original specimen. Use of indirect immunofluorescence can be used to augment the sensitivity of cell culture for the detection of RSV because cytopathic effect may not always be evident.