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One hundred children with suspected herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection and 20 controls were studied to compare a rapid immunofluorescence (RIF) test for detection and typing of HSV from smears of lesions with standard viral culture. The RIF test was evaluated for ease of use and speed of diagnosis. RIF and/or culture were positive in 64% of patients. All infections diagnosed by RIF and culture were HSV type 1. In 92% of patients RIF and culture results were in concordance. In 57 cases, RIF and cultures were positive for HSV infection and in 35 cases RIF and cultures were negative for HSV infection. Three patients had inadequate samples for RIF and five children had positive RIF but were culture negative. All controls had negative results both by RIF test and culture. The RIF test demonstrated 100% sensitivity and 95% specificity. The RIF test was type specific, easy to perform and gave diagnosis of HSV infections within an hour of taking the clinical specimen. This study suggests the RIF test is as good, if not more sensitive, in the diagnosis of HSV infections as standard viral culture and has the advantage of speed of diagnosis.