SYMPOSIUM ON VIRUS DIAGNOSIS IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY

Recent advances in the techniques of growing Improvements in antigen production now viruses have greatly simplified the procedures of permit successful utilization of the complement isolation and identification of the causative fixation test as a diagnostic tool for the majority agents of virus diseases as well as the performance of viral and rickettsial diseases. With broader of various serological tests for antibodies in application of the hemagglutination-inhibition paired sera from cases. Two of the most important test and adaptation of tissue culture methods to developments in this field have been the incorserum neutralization tests, routine serologic poration of suitable antibiotics into laboratory services, previously prohibitive, are now pracmedia for the control of bacterial contaminants ticable in most laboratories. Although embryoand the widespread use of tissue culture technate eggs, suckling mice, adult mice, and other niques made possible by recent demonstrations of animals are occasionally mandatory for virus the adaptive tropism of many viruses which isolation, tissue culture methods are rapidly previously could only be grown in expensive supplanting these and placing virus isolation and laboratory animals. The resultant simplification identification procedures within the scope of the of technical procedures makes it possible for the average laboratory. smaller, less specialized laboratories such as Problems still confronting and deterring the those of most public health departments to virus diagnostic laboratory are: (a) availability perform tests never before attempted in such of personnel capable of obtaining reproducible laboratories and provides the necessity and imresults and interpreting them; (b) availability of petus for the present symposium. standardized diagnostic antigens and antisera; Morris Schaeffer opened the symposium dis(c) complicated requirements for the collection, cussing general considerations in the virus diagpreservation and transportation of certain specinosis. He brought out the fact that dramatic mens; and (d) the relatively long interval freadvances in virologic techniques have made the quently elapsing between submission of specirare and highly specialized virus laboratory more nens and receipt of a final report, which is common and readily applicable to routine diagoftentimes discouraging to the physician. nostic procedures. Local requirements, should Progressive advances in electron microscopy, determine the types of services that a state, fluorescent antibody techniques, and immunomunicipal or hospital laboratory could perform chemistry, as well as in other fields, optimistically proficiently and economically. Infrequent tests promise further simplification and more rapid may be provided by a regional or central laboradiagnostic procedures in the near future. tory which could also serve as a consultant and Laboratory diagnosis of viral infections of the reference laboratory. respiratory tract was discussed by Maurice R. Hilleman. The respiratory tract, by virtue of its 'This symposium was held at the Fifty-seventh being a hollow organ which is in continuous conGeneral Meeting of the Society of American Bactact with the atmosphere, is subject to repeated teriologists in Detroit, Michigan, on April 30, exposure to and attack by a wide variety of 1957. Participants were: Morris Schaeffer, Commicroorganisms. Important among these are the municable Disease Center, Montgomery, Alabama; es which com Maurice R. Hilleman, Department of Respiratory vrusprevsguoknown r . Diseases, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, presently unknown entities which infect the Washington, D. C.; Gilbert Dalldorf, Department respiratory system. Even though attacked by a of Health, State of New York, Albany; N. R. Grist, diversity of microorganisms, the response of the Virus Laboratory, Ruchill Hospital, Glasgow, Scothost to such invasion is singularly limited in land. variety. Basically, the host response is confined