Rapid enhanced tissue culture immunofluorescence: a new, rapid method for detection of viruses

Abstract

The detection of a large variety of viruses requires a number of different susceptible cell lines in a shell vial method – currently considered to be the most enhanced method of viral detection. However, this method is unsuitable in its standard form for handling a large volume of specimens. We have developed a time and cost saving new method, named rapid enhanced tissue culture immunofluorescence (RETCIF) and incorporates the attributes of the current methods. It is specific, uses the most sensitive cell lines and monoclonal antibodies and does not require the use of cover slips. The RETCIF method, in our hands, is a time saving procedure, with higher isolation ratio than the shell vial method. We recommend the RETCIF method for busy diagnostic virology laboratories.

• rapid enhanced tissue culture
• immunofluorescence
• rapid virus detection