Table 7.1.
Types of Specimens Collected for Viral Diagnosis
| Site (or type) of illness | Possible viral cause | Types of specimens collected |
|---|---|---|
| Respiratory tract | Adenovirus | Nasopharyngeal swab, nasal aspirate, nasal swab, nasal wash, throat swab |
| Cytomegalovirus | ||
| Enterovirus | ||
| Herpes simplex virus | ||
| Influenza virus | ||
| Parainfluenza virus | ||
| Respiratory syncytial virus | ||
| Gastrointestinal tract | Adenovirus | Stool, vomit |
| Rotavirus | ||
| Norwalk virus | ||
| Skin (rash) | Coxsackie A virus | Biopsy, Tzanck smear |
| Herpes simplex virus | ||
| Varicella zoster virus | ||
| Eye | Adenovirus | Conjunctival swab, corneal swab |
| Cytomegalovirus | ||
| Enterovirus | ||
| Herpes simplex virus | ||
| Varicella zoster virus | ||
| Central nervous system (Meningitis, encephalitis) | Arboviruses (many) | Cerebral spinal fluid, stool, biopsy (or autopsy), throat swab, blood |
| Coxsackie A virus | ||
| Coxsackie B virus | ||
| Dengue virus | ||
| Enterovirus | ||
| Herpesviruses | ||
| Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus | ||
| Measles virus | ||
| Mumps virus | ||
| Poliovirus | ||
| West Nile virus | ||
| Genital infections | Herpes simplex virus | Cervical swab, urethral swab, vesicle fluid, Pap smear, Tzanck smear |
| Human papillomavirus |