title: Laboratory diagnosis of noroviruses: present and future.
abstract: Norovirus is an important cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks globally and the most prevalent cause of sporadic gastroenteritis in many regions. Rapid and accurate identification of causative viral agents is critical for outbreak investigation, disease surveillance, and management. Because norovirus is not cultivable and has a highly diversified and variable genome, it is difficult to develop diagnostic assays. Detection methods have evolved from electron microscopy to conventional end-point reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunoassay, real-time RT-PCR, other molecular technologies, and nanotechnology array-based assays. The status and features of various testing methods are summarized in this review.
authors.affiliation: Provincial Laboratory for Public Health, Walter Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre, University of Alberta Hospital, 8440 - 112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2J2, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, 8440-112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7, Canada. Electronic address: xiao-li.pang@albertahealthservices.ca.
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, 11405, 87 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada.
authors.forename: Bonita E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006801:Humans; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D029322:Norovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013048:Specimen Handling; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D014776:Virus Cultivation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D014765:Viral Vaccines
keywords: Diagnosis; Genotypes; Laboratory test; Norovirus; Sporadic and outbreak gastroenteritis