Differential diagnosis of human retrovirus infections in the laboratory

Several human retroviruses have been discovered in the past decade, the majority of which have been implicated as etiological agents of severe disease entities. Thus, there is a clear need for accurate identification of human retroviruses in the laboratory. In this review, the classification and general properties of human retroviruses are outlined. Methods for detecting the presence of antibodies are reviewed. In addition, the principles of methods used for isolating and identifying retroviruses are discussed. Finally, techniques which detect the presence of retroviruses directly in clinical specimens without prior amplification in culture are summarized. Clearly, the ability to differentiate and recognize the different types of retrovirus is important for the proper treatment of diseases caused by these viruses.