[Progress in virologic diagnosis and its clinical relevance]

A clinical relevant diagnostic must be performed early and quickly with sufficient sensitivity and specificity. Under these aspects the virological diagnostics with its methods for the demonstration of viruses as well as for the establishment of an immune response is estimated. As to the proof of pathogenic organisms or antigens is referred to electron-microscopic and immunologic methods (e.g. the fluorescence-antibody-technique, enzyme immunoassay) as well as to the hybridization of nucleic acid. The diagnostics of the immune response is above all based on the demonstration of antibodies. Emphasis is laid on the methods for the establishment of IgM-antibodies, which mostly conclude to an acute virus infection.