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Diagnostics/environmental
detection
“If further development of procedures for the
environmental detection of
Variola virus
or
for diagnostic purposes were to be pursued,
more extensive knowledge of the genome
variability, predicted protein sequences,
virion surface structure, and functionality of
Variola virus
from widely dispersed
geographic sources would be needed.*”
*
Assessment of Future Scientific Needs for Live
Variola Virus
; N.A.Press (1999)
Diagnostics
•
Why “if?”
•
Proponents, in 1999, that EM and standard PCR
techniques were sufficient for smallpox
diagnostics
–
As of 2002 – survey of EM capacity in state health
departments reveals only 3-8 with skilled capability
to any capability
–
Newer technology: real time PCR