Evaluation of the virocult transport tube for isolation of herpes simplex virus from clinical specimens

Herpes simplex virus survived in Virocult transport tubes and had a half-life of 3.5 days at 2 degrees C and 2.75 days at 22 degrees C. Of 2,000 consecutive clinical specimens transported on Virocult tubes and cultured for herpes simplex virus, 448 (22.4%) were positive. Comparison of the holding times between positive and negative cultures, up to 12 days, revealed no significant loss of positive cultures with time.