Virology

A virus is a small infectious agent that replicates inside living cells. Viruses cause many human diseases from small illnesses, like influenza, to more deadly diseases, like hepatitis B and HIV. Our body’s immune system defends against viral infection by generating specific antibodies to bind to and neutralize viral particles and by cell mediated immunity that destroys infected host cells.

Viral infections can be diagnosed by PCR testing for viral DNA/RNA and by testing for viral specific antigens or antibodies.