Shell Vial

This method of viral detection involves the growth of a monolayer of susceptible cultured cells on a coverslip at the bottom of a vial. Such layers of cells in a shell vial are obtainable commercially. An patient sample inoculum containing a virus such as respiratory syncytial virus or cytomegalovirus is spun down onto the surface of the monolayer. This improves the sensitivity and the speed of detection of the virus. After incubation of the cells, they are stained with a specific anti-viral antibody