title: Advances in the laboratory diagnosis of viral respiratory disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years significant advances in the laboratory diagnostics available to detect respiratory viral infections have been achieved.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article presents the types of diagnostic methods currently available to the practitioner, as well as those on the horizon. The article covers tissue culture, serology and direct examination as well as some rapid diagnostic techniques and molecular assays, previewing developing new technology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laboratory diagnosis will likely be clinically useful in some but not all cases of viral infection. As new diagnostic methods become widely available, it is increasingly important to develop guidelines for laboratory testing when viral illness is suspected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA. kellyj@mcw.edu
authors.forename: Kelly J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Henrickson
mesh_terms: D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008967:Molecular Biology; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index