Antiviral
testing is a direct examination of an infectious agent to determine its
infectivity and identify any specific antiviral drug if needed. It is primarily
used for detecting viruses in the body but can also detect bacteria. Since the
advent of modern medicine, it has been an indispensable part of clinical
practice. In developed countries today, all citizens are routinely screened for
HIV using an ELISA test and followed up with a Western Blot test or other more
advanced tests when needed. Antiviral testing is also essential in the
diagnosis of specific viral diseases.
Microbiology Tests
The microorganisms involved in antiviral testing can be either a virus or
bacteria. The tests for identifying viruses and bacteria are differentiated by
their morphology, i.e., the appearance of their cells. A virus has no cell
structure and appears spherical under a light microscope. Electron microscopy
is also used to identify viruses. Bacteria have a distinct cell wall, which appears
as a polygon when viewed under the light microscope; they also appear rod-like
or spherical under an electron microscope. Antiviral testing requires highly
specialized equipment, such as an electron microscope and a virology
laboratory. A simple detection test for a virus or bacterium may need only a
basic microscope.
Molecular biology lab services
Antiviral testing also includes the genetic characterization of viruses and
bacteria by their DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) or RNA (ribonucleic acid). Even
though viruses have no cell nucleus, their DNA and RNA can be detected by
molecular biology techniques. At this point, several tests can be used to
detect these different diseases. A polymerase chain reaction test is used to
detect the presence of RNA from a virus without having to purify it. A reverse
transcriptase polymerase chain reaction is used for detecting viral DNA, and a
nested PCR test can be used for detecting viral DNA. However, it has a lower
sensitivity than the reverse transcriptase PCR test.
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