Consolidation of molecular testing in clinical virology

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The development of quantitative methods for the detection of viral nucleic acids have significantly improved our ability to manage disease progression and to assess the efficacy of antiviral treatment. Moreover, major advances in molecular technologies during the last decade have allowed the identification of new host genetic markers associated with antiviral drug response but have also strongly revolutionized the way we see and perform virus diagnostics in the coming years.

Areas covered: In this review, we describe the history and development of virology diagnostic methods, dedicating particular emphasis on the gradual evolution and recent advances toward the introduction of multiparametric platforms for the syndromic diagnosis. In parallel, we outline the consolidation of viral genome quantification practice in different clinical settings.

Expert commentary: More rapid, accurate and affordable molecular technology can be predictable with particular emphasis on emerging techniques (next generation sequencing, digital PCR, point of care testing and syndromic diagnosis) to simplify viral diagnosis in the next future.

KEYWORDS:

• Viral load
• host genetic factors
• viral diagnostic
• syndromic diagnosis
• point of care
• HIV
• HCV
• HPV
• RSV
• IL28B
• ITPA

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Notes

1. A group directed by Robert C. Gallo published related findings in the same issue of Science and later confirmed the discovery of the virus and demonstrated that it caused AIDS [42].

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.