Uses
            Identification 
            Further studies 
             (e.g., Pathogenicity, antiviral sensitivity, research)
                                     Limitations
       Absence of detection system for the agent
       Inappropriate culture systems
       Viruses that cannot be cultured
       A negative viral culture results does not 
       mean that the agent is absent
 Specimens used to culture viruses
    Blood specimens           Stools, rectal swabs
       EDTA                  Urine 
       Heparin               Saliva
       Serum                 Cerebro-spinal fluid
    Stool                     Biopsy
    Throat swabs                  Skin (filoviridae)
    Naso-paryngeal aspirates      Organs  (fixation 
                                    with formaldehyde 
                                    10%)
       Virus isolation in traditional cell 
           cultures (monolayer cultures)
           1 . Primary culture
           2 . Semi - continuous cell culture
           3 . Continuous cell culture
                       Primary cultures
           Viable cell suspensions may be obtained 
            by dissociating tissues or organs, e.g. 
            human amnion, with trypsin, collagenase 
            or other enzymes.
          Semi continuous cell cultures 
                                (cell strains )
           – Semi continuous cell cultures are 
            established with the successful 
            subculture of primary cell monolayers. 
            These cultures consist mostly of spindle 
            shaped fibroblast cells. Established from 
            human embryonic tissue, or neonatal 
            foreskin. .