page_title: Laboratory diagnosis of viral infections
section_title: Electron microscopy
hierarchical_section_title: Laboratory diagnosis of viral infections / Microscopy based methods / Electron microscopy
caption_attribution_description: English: Transmission electron micrograph of human multiple particles of human caliciviruses. Each particle is about 30 to 40 nanometers in diameter. The process of preparing viruses for observation by electron microscopy causes some drying and thus shrinkage.
context_page_description: In the diagnostic laboratory virus infections can be confirmed by a multitude of methods. Diagnostic virology has changed rapidly due to the advent of molecular techniques and increased clinical sensitivity of serological assays.
context_section_description: Electron microscopy is a method that can take a picture of a whole virus and can reveal its shape and structure.  It is not typically used as a routine diagnostic test as it requires a highly specialized type of sample preparation, microscope and technical expertise.  However, electron microscopy is highly versatile due to its ability to analyze any type of sample and identify any type of virus.  Therefore, it remains the gold standard for identifying viruses that do not show up on routine diagnostic tests or for which routine tests present conflicting results.
caption: Electron microscopy of the Sappovirus
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