Table 1.
Comparison of different techniques for virus detection
| Technique | Detection of | Sensitivity | Specificity | Speed | Multiplex assays available |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nucleic acid amplification (NAT) | Viral genome, i.e. parts of it | High (10–50 molecules per assay) | Type/group/family | 1–4 h | Yes (usually for different types or groups of the same family) |
| Cell culture detection | Infectivity and cytopathity | High (1 infectious particle per assay) | Group/family | 2–14 d | Yes for cytopathic viruses |
| Electron microscopy Immune EM Type | Virus particles | Low (>107 mL−1) intermediate (>104–105mL−1) | Group/family | 15 min 120–240 min | By virtue of its ‘open view’ it is a ‘catch-all-method’ |
| ELISA | Viral antigen or specific antibodies | Intermediate | Type/group | 2–3 h | No |
| Immune light microscopy (immune fluorescence, APAAP) | Viral antigen or specific antibodies | High | Type/group | 2–3 h | Yes |