Nucleic acid hybridization in the diagnosis of viral infections

Abstract

Recombinant DNA technology, including molecular cloning and nucleic acid hybridization, is now being applied to problems in clinical virology. Although viral isolation in cell culture remains the most sensitive and specific diagnostic test for many viruses, for some viruses, isolation in cell culture is lengthy or difficult or has not yet been achieved. Utilization of hybridization techniques has already resulted in important new information concerning the pathogenesis of a number of viruses, such as Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis B virus, and human papillomavirus. The application of nucleic acid hybridization in viral diagnosis is the subject of this review article.