Enteric Virus Detection

Viruses are intracellular parasites that require living host cells in order to multiply.  This assay employs mammalian cell cultures of primate origin (African Green Monkey kidney cells) to permit the virus population to multiply sufficiently to facilitate detection.  A most probable number (MPN) technique is employed to estimate the number of virus particles in the original sample. SMI will provide a sampling kit and virus filters (Cuno or ViroCap filters).

Total Culturable Virus Assay (TCV)
Sample Volume:  1L to 1000L, depending on the matrix and the purpose.
Sample Matrices:  waste water, surface water, ground water, ground water under the influence of surface water, drinking water.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Enterovirus:  Presence/Absence by Polymerase Chain Reaction
Semi-quantitification by real-time RT-PCR
Norovirus:  Presence/Absence by Polymerase Chain Reaction
Semi-quantification by real-time RT-PCR

Other enteric viruses: adenovirus, Hepatitis A virus, rotavirus, and poliovirus