Introduction: Traditional Methods for Laboratory Diagnosis of Viral and Chlamydial Infections

Abstract

This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part focuses on some of the more traditional culture and rapid immunologic methods for the detection and identification of viruses in a diagnostic laboratory. It includes Chlamydia culture given that this method is virtually always performed in a clinical virology laboratory or a distinct section of the clinical microbiology laboratory due to the need for a cell culture system and appropriate facilities. Traditional methods continue to have a place in regional and national reference laboratories to help identify and characterize new viruses or variants of well‐recognized viruses not detected by molecular methods, for active surveillance to detect and monitor disease outbreaks, and in support of research activities for antiviral drug and vaccine development.