Polio laboratory manual, 4th edition

The document provides general information about the polio eradication initiative, the role of laboratories in surveillance for wild polioviruses, the structure and mechanisms for monitoring the performance of the WHO global polio laboratory of cell cultures, evaluating cell cultures for mycoplasma contamination and sensitivity for virus isolation. Protocols are provided for preparing and analyzing faecal samples for the presence of polioviruses. Serotyping poliovirus isolates in micro-neutralization assay is described as well as procedures for differentiating virus isolates as wild or vaccine like by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), probe hybridization and polymerase chaine reaction (PCR). Guidelines are provided for the investigation of possible viral cross contamination of cell culturesa; shipping of diagnostic samples and virus isolates; and laboratory data management.