Progress in the rapid diagnosis of viral infections: a memorandum.

This Memorandum reports the progress that has been made over the past year in the development of laboratory techniques for the rapid diagnosis of viral infections. Progress is reported in the use of the immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence techniques for detecting viruses in respiratory secretions, the use of the glutaraldehyde and periodate methods for peroxidase conjugation, the application of enzyme immunoassay techniques in the detection of viral antigens and antibodies, and training in the use of these techniques. A number of recommendations for further research are made.