The results of the use of the two new methods for early diagnosis of herpes simplex virus infection based on immuno-mediated hemagglutination and hemadsorption are presented. In these methods, staphylococcal diagnostic preparations with two kinds of adsorbed antibody are used which allow the presence of the virus to be detected and simultaneously identified. These tests help to detect virus both in the liquid phase at 1-8 days after the onset of the study (immune competition test) and in infected culture cells within the first few days postinfection and long before the appearance of marked cytopathic effect (immune hemadsorption tect). The employment of these methods for the diagnosis of herpetic affection of the central nervous system in children increases by 10-15% the rate of detection of herpes simplex virus with simultaneous identification of the virus.