Rapid non-invasive diagnosis of herpes encephalitis.

A sensitive and specific radioimmunosorbent assay for serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IgG antibodies against Herpesvirus simplex has been evaluated as an early diagnostic test for herpes encephalitis. When combined with the measurement of albumin in serum and CSF as accurate diagnostic index was obtained in twenty-four out of twenty-six patients. Out of ten patients tested before day 10 of neurological illness, five had positive diagnostic indices. Three patients with negative indices before day 10 had positive indices when re-tested later.