%0 Journal Article
%T Role of the Laboratory in the Diagnosis of Poxvirus Infections.
%A Agarwala P
%A Sharma A
%J Adv Exp Med Biol
%V 1451
%N 0
%D 2024
%M 38801582
%F 3.65
%R 10.1007/978-3-031-57165-7_15
%X Although WHO-led global efforts led to eradication of smallpox over four decades ago, other poxviruses, especially monkeypox, have re-emerged to occupy the ecological niche vacated by smallpox. Many of these viruses produce similar lesions thus mandating a prompt laboratory confirmation. There has been considerable evolution in the techniques available to diagnose these infections and differentiate between them. With the 2022 multi-country outbreak of monkeypox, significant efforts were made to apprise the laboratory diagnosis of the virus and numerous real-time-PCR-based assays were made commercially available. This chapter discusses the sample collection and biosafety aspects along with the repertoire of diagnostic modalities, both traditional and emerging, for poxviruses which a special focus on monkeypox. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique have been illustrated. We have also reflected upon the newer advances and the existing lacunae.