Viruses cause many diseases in humans, animals and plants. Among the more common viral diseases which you may have suffered from are the common cold (Rhinovirus), chickenpox (Herpes Zoster Virus) and cold sores (Herpes Simplex Virus).

Viruses consist of a small collection of genetic material (DNA or RNA) encased in a protective protein coat called capsid. In some viruses, the capsid is covered by a viral envelope made of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. The envelopes may be studded by spikes made of carbohydrates and proteins that help the virus particles attach to host cells.

When viruses come into contact with host cells, they trigger the cells to engulf them, or fuse themselves to the cell membrane so they can release their DNA into the cell. Once inside a host cell, viruses take over its machinery to reproduce.

The Categories of viruses are made by their structure:

RNA virus - where the virus genetic information is RNA
DNA virus - where the virus genetic information is DNA
Retrovirus - a subcategory of RNA virus that uses the host cell to produce DNA from its RNA template

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the most commonly used serologic test for detecting antibody against viruses. It is even possible to distinguish between acute infection, prior infection, or passively acquired antibodies, e.g maternal ones in infants.
Ideal instruments for ELISA formats are the BERTHOLD TECHNOLOGIES multimode readers Mithras LB 940 and TriStar LB 941.
By exchanging colorimetric substrates of horseradish peroxidase or phosphatases with luminescent ones a 100-fold increase in sensitivity may be achieved.
Especially for luminescence immunoassays (LIA) BERTHOLD designed the CentroLIA LB 961, the stand alone microplate luminometer with integrated software. The use of softkeys with an interactive text display of their associated function makes the CentroLIA an extremely user-friendly, easy-to-use, instrument. Additionally BERTHOLD offers a variety of luminometers in different probe formats and according to your throughput demands: Centro LB 960 microplate luminometer and Mithras LB 940 & TriStar LB 941 multimode readers with MikroWin software and curve fitting option. The tube luminometers Lumat LB 9507 single tube luminometer, Junior LB 9509 portable tube luminometers, AutoLumat LB 953 automated tube luminometer are/can be equipped with sophisticated and easy-to-use immunoassay software.