Cell Culture and Diagnostic Virology

Abstract

Since the discovery by Enders (1949) that polioviruses could be cultured successfully in nonneural tissue, cell culture has become a very useful and convenient method for isolating viruses in vitro. Even though more modern diagnostic virological techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and immunofluorescence (IF) have become increasingly popular recently, viral isolation in cell culture still remains the “gold standard” for many cultivable viruses (Schmidt 1989). A single cell culture can be used to cultivate a broad spectrum of viral agents. Viral culture also facilitates the production of high titered virus used in antibody testing, viral characterization or molecular analysis. In the past many diagnostic virology laboratories initiated and propagated their own cell lines. Nowadays, it is more convenient and indeed common practice to buy cells, due to the abundance of commercial sources available. This is also true for the growth media in which the cells are propagated. Irrespective of how the cells or media are acquired, it is important for the diagnostic virology laboratory to maintain their own appropriate quality control procedures to ensure that cells and media are free of contaminants and remain susceptible to viral challenge.