Virology, Emerging Diseases & vaccines

Diagnostic virology

Diagnostic virology is rapidly moving into the mainstream of clinical medicine. 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. First, dramatic progress in antiviral therapeutics has increased the need for specific viral diagnoses. Second, technological developments, particularly in the area of nucleic acid chemistry, have provided important new tools for viral diagnosis. Third, the number of patients at risk for opportunistic viral infections has expanded greatly as a result of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Finally, modern management of HIV infection and hepatitis C is providing a new paradigm for the integration of molecular techniques into management of chronic viral infections. These developments are not only increasing the use of diagnostic virology but are reshaping the field.