Fungal & Infectious Diseases

Diagnostic virology has now entered the mainstream medical practice. Multiple methods are used for the laboratory diagnosis of viral infections, including viral culture, antigen detection, nucleic acid detection and serology. The role of culture is diminishing as new immunologic and molecular tests are developed that provide more rapid results and are able to detect a larger number of viruses. This review provides specific recommendations for the diagnostic approach to clinically important viral infections. Rapid, sensitive and rational virus detection and quantification methods are needed. Broadly targeted methods are the major theme of this review. They can reduce the time and cost of diagnosis of infectious disease. Once an accurate diagnosis has been reached, appropriate medical action can be taken.