Cell culture |
Infectivity can be determined; provides quantitative data |
Long processing time (takes days to weeks); relatively more expensive than conventional PCR; not all viruses can grow on cultured cells |
101, 149
|
PCR (RT-PCR) |
Rapid; increased sensitivity and specificity compared to cell culture |
Presence or absence only (nonquantitative); inhibitors present in environmental samples may interfere with PCR amplification; infectivity cannot be determined |
61, 99
|
Nested PCR (semi/heminested) |
Increased sensitivity compared to conventional PCR; can replace PCR confirmation steps, such as hybridization |
Potential risk of carryover contamination when transferring PCR products |
79, 127, 161
|
Multiplex PCR |
Several types, groups or species of viruses can be detected in a single reaction; saves time and cost |
Difficult to achieve equal sensitivity for all targeted virus species, groups, or types; may produce nonspecific amplification in environmental samples |
49, 57
|
Real-time PCR |
Provides quantitative data; confirmation of PCR products is not required (saves time); can be done in a closed system, which reduces risk of contamination compared to nested PCR |
Expensive equipment; occasionally less sensitive than conventional PCR and nested PCR |
7, 40, 120
|
ICC-PCR |
Improves detection of infectious viral pathogens compared to conventional cell culture; detects viruses that do not produce CPE in cell culture; provides results in half the time required for conventional cell culture |
Less time-efficient and more costly than direct PCR detection; carryover detection of DNA of inactivated viruses inoculated onto cultured cells is possible |
26, 59, 89
|