Diagnostic Virology

Question 1

what are the 5 main clinical diagnostic techniques ?

Answer 1

electron microscopy, culture, serology , antigen detection, nucleic acid detection

Question 2

What are the diagnostic method used for viruses ?

Answer 2

Virus culture, virus quantitation ( biological and physical) , basic serological techniques, electron microscopy , virus isolation ( Influenza A - eggs)

Question 3

Diagnosis by Electron Microscopy

Answer 3

• Stain with 2 phosphotungstic acid
• 20K Magnification
• Negative staining ( comparing shapes)

Question 4

Viral cultured cells

Answer 4

• Primary: heterogenous , closest to animal => technical hassle
• Diploid cell strain: homogenous , further from animal => less technical hassle
• Continuous cell line- immortal,most homogeneous , genetical weird (furthest from animal) , hassle free , suspension or monolayer

Question 5

Transformation

Answer 5

• immortalisation
• Loss of contact inhibition
• anchorage independence : Growth in soft agar or suspension
• tumour formation in athymic (nude) mice

Question 6

what are the basic serological techniques for viruses ?

Answer 6

• Plaque assay
• End point titration
• Hemagglutination test
• Immunofluorescence or immunohistochemistry