Recent developments in viral diagnosis

Developments in viral diagnosis have come from the areas of molecular biology, biochemistry, physical chemistry and immunology, allowing the provision of sensitive and rapid technology for diagnosing human infections. A blending of more traditional culture and microscopy techniques with more recent methods of detecting viral antigens and IgM responses in clinical specimens can allow discriminatory patient isolation, treatment with immunoglobulins and antiviral drugs, and reduce the broad spectrum use of antibiotics in many clinical situations.