Skill-based training workshop

Early diagnosis of viral infections is important because in most cases establishing a specific viral diagnosis limits other diagnostic procedures and may allow discontinuation of antibiotic therapy. Likewise, in some cases, it helps in determining prognosis. Moreover, viral diagnosis may also be important for public health purposes. Diagnostic virology is rapidly moving into the mainstream of clinical medicine because of the convergence of several independent developments. First, dramatic progress in antiviral therapeutics has increased the need for specific viral diagnoses. Second, technological developments, particularly in nucleic acid chemistry, have provided important new tools for viral diagnosis. Third, the number of patients at risk for opportunistic viral infections has expanded greatly as a result of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Learning Objectives:

• This training is intended to provide knowledge to the participants on the syndromic approach used towards the diagnosis of viral infections, the rationale of testing and the interpretation of the results

Learning Outcome:

Upon completion of the course the participants should be able to:

• Explain viruses with respect to syndrome, laboratory diagnosis and disease prevention measures
• Perform laboratory investigations for the diagnosis of viral infectious diseases
• Identify various viral diseases of humans and different diagnostic techniques