Table 1.

Comparison of diagnostic methods for viruses

Method	Advantages	Disadvantages
Experimental animals	Only method available for some viruses; used to study pathogenesis	Expensive; slow; complex systems–complex results
Cell culture	Used to study and quantify most viruses; sensitive	Slow; technically demanding
Antigen detection	Rapid; for viruses which cannot be cultured	Technically demanding; equipment is expensive
Serology	Rapid; sensitive; can be quantitative; automation	Difficult interpretation; sensitivity variable
Nucleic acid-based	Rapid; sensitivity	Expensive
Microarrays	Used for a big quantity of viruses	Sensitivity and specificity non demonstrated; absence of evaluation
Electron microscopy	Rapid; sensitivity; teaching value; absence of viral viability; identification of new agents	Cost elevate; complexity of maintaining; requires trained operator; requires high concentration of viral particles