Viral Culture

Suggested Tests for Viral Identification

April 2012

Another common scenario is when a patient presents with a dermal or genital lesion that is suspicious for infection with HSV or VZV. Because VZV grows poorly in culture, the optimal tests in this setting are PCR for both HSV and VZV. An important caveat is that viral culture would be required is HSV resistance to acyclovir is suspected. In this case, HSV would need to be grown in cell culture prior to undergoing susceptibility testing. Another unique setting is the neonate with potential exposure to HSV during delivery. In this case, HSV PCR or viral culture would be appropriate, and some experts prefer culture over PCR because this would indicate that the virus is viable and not just consist of residual viral DNA from the mother.

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Suggested Tests for Viral Identification

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Jump to section:

• Introduction
• Viral Culture
• Tube Culture
• Multiple Roller Racks Containing Tube Cultures
• Technologist Examining the Cell Monolayers
• Special Stage Attachment
• Negative MRC-5 Cell sheet (human diploid fibroblasts)
• MRC-5 Cell sheet with CMV cytopathic effect (CPE)
• Shell Vial Culture
• Shell Vial Culture (continued)
• CMV Shell Vial Results
• Pitfalls of Culture
• Viruses That Grow In Culture and Incubation Time
• Viruses That Do NOT Grow in Routine Cell Culture
• Best Tests for Identification of Cultivable Viruses
• Suggested Tests for Viral Identification
• Suggested Tests for Viral Identification
• Suggested Tests for Viral Identification
• Suggested Tests for Viral Identification
• Suggested Tests for Viral Identification
• Summary
• Questions