Rapid detection of viable enteroviruses in water by tissue culture and semi-nested polymerase chain reaction

A method has been developed for the detection of waterborne viruses which combines the speed of PCR techniques with the assurance of viability given by tissue culture. Environmental water samples are concentrated by adsorption/elution and protein precipitation, subjected to a brief period of culture and the tissue culture fluid assayed for the presence of viruses. RT-PCR was carried out with the EZ rTth DNA polymerase system. When applied to environmental samples results comparable to those obtained by traditional methods were obtained within 3 days of receipt of sample.