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A Guide to Viral Diagnosis/Serology

(Download  A Guide to Viral Diagnosis.pdf)

The Health Insurance Commission prohibits HAPS from accepting request forms where "Viral Serology" is written as the test requested; the requirement being that individual tests be specifically requested for viral serology testing.

HAPS has prepared the attached information to assist clinicians and laboratory personnel when deciding which tests may be appropriate under clinically observed circumstances.

The documentation provides basic information only for the following diagnoses; and in some cases further testing may be necessary.

The guidelines have been compiled by Dr Christine Johnson who requests the following points be kept in mind when ordering:-

• Where optimal sero-testing requires acute and convalescent paired sera, the first specimen can be stored in many cases and tests run in parallel with the second specimen.
• Tests listed in parenthesis should only be requested on selected patients or as second line testing where initial testing proves negative.
• Further tests may be appropriate as diagnostic or clinical information manifests. Additional tests can be added to stored samples if required.
• For some conditions, culture or other methods for detection of causative agents may be appropriate, in addition to, or in place of, serological testing.

General Comments

• Where HIV testing is requested, patient must have predisposing factors and testing can only be performed with the patients consent following counselling.
• The enterovirus group includes Coxsackie A and B viruses, echoviruses and enteroviruses.
• It is suggested that the Internet version of HAPS Handbook is checked for further information concerning serology for enteroviruses.
• This list is not exhaustive and the selection of tests for viral culture, serology, molecular tests, etc may vary with the clinical manifestation in individuals.
• Newer technologies now coming on line may make further tests available in the near future.

The information contained in this Information Sheet has been compiled by Dr Christine Johnson – HAPS Microbiology and Virology from the manual used within the now defunct Royal Newcastle Hospital Virology Laboratory, the "Manual of Clinical Microbiology: 7th Edition", and "A Guide to Specimen Management in Clinical Microbiology".

Should you require more information, please contact HAPS Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases on 49214422. Thank you.

Written by:     Dr Christine Johnson HAPS
Written:           August 1999

Last Reviewed:     Sept 2005