The Virology Laboratory offers a full range of testing for common viral agents isolated from adult and pediatric patients. Molecular assays based on real-time and conventional PCR account for most testing. Molecular assays for more than 20 agents are currently in use. FA staining and shell vial cultures are used mainly for respiratory specimens. Infectious Diseases and Laboratory Medicine fellows have played key roles in developing and evaluating some of these assays. Recognizing the increased usage of antiviral drugs and the concomitant development of resistance to these agents, the Virology Laboratory also offers susceptibility testing for isolates of herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus to the drugs acyclovir and ganciclovir. Lastly, because of the requirement for cell culture, the Virology Laboratory performs culture for the isolation of Chlamydia from clinical specimens.
The Virology Laboratory offers a full range of testing for common viral agents isolated from adult and pediatric patients. Molecular assays based on real-time and conventional PCR account for most testing. Molecular assays for more than 20 agents are currently in use. FA staining and shell vial cultures are used mainly for respiratory specimens. Infectious Diseases and Laboratory Medicine fellows have played key roles in developing and evaluating some of these assays. Recognizing the increased usage of antiviral drugs and the concomitant development of resistance to these agents, the Virology Laboratory also offers susceptibility testing for isolates of herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus to the drugs acyclovir and ganciclovir. Lastly, because of the requirement for cell culture, the Virology Laboratory performs culture for the isolation of Chlamydia from clinical specimens.