DETECTION OF INFECTIOUS ENTEROVIRUSES BY AN INTEGRATED CELL-CULTURE PCR PROCEDURE

Rapid detection of infectious enteroviruses in environmental samples w as made possible by utilizing an integrated cell culture-reverse trans criptase PCR approach. By this method, the presence of infectious ente rovirus was confirmed within 24 h, compared,vith greater than or equal to 3 days by cell culture alone. The combined methodology eliminated typical problems normally associated with direct reverse transcriptase PCR by increasing the equivalent volume of environmental sample exami ned and reducing the effects of inhibitory compounds.