1
Return

Detectability of Pathogenic RNA Virus Families in Different Body Sites: A Scoping Review

delete2026-07-05
delete0
delete
OA
AI
C
Christian Ilsby *
T
Thomas Leineweber Kristensen
K
Kristian Bagge
J
Jens Bukh
J
Jan Gorm Lisby
U
Uffe Vest Schneider
DOI:10.3390/v18070743delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are central to modern virology diagnostics. However, evidence supporting alternative specimen types remains uneven across viral families, especially for emerging viruses. This limits diagnostic flexibility in outbreak and clinically complex settings. We conducted a scoping review of NAAT detectability across key body sites for human RNA viruses. PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for studies reporting NAAT results from urine, blood, fecal, cerebrospinal fluid, or respiratory specimens. Data were independently screened and synthesized to summarize specimen-specific detectability for each virus. From 8676 screened records, 321 studies were included, covering 39 viruses across 25 RNA virus families. Detectability across specimen types varied substantially between viruses. Consistent detection across multiple specimens was observed for few viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, Zika virus, and HIV, whereas many emerging viruses were evaluated in a single body compartment with limited comparative data. NAAT performance across specimen types is highly virus-specific and unevenly studied, with reliance on blood or respiratory specimens, potentially overlooking viable, less invasive alternatives. Evidence gaps are particularly pronounced for urine and cerebrospinal fluid, and heterogeneous reporting limits cross-study comparability. Standardized, cross-specimen and longitudinal studies are needed to improve diagnostic strategies, outbreak preparedness, and future assay development.
Keywords:
RNA viruses
viral tropism
diagnostic sampling
body sites
viral detection
scoping review

Journal

Viruses cover
Viruses
IF:
3.5
Papers:
1.7W
Citations:
4.9W

Organization

Statens Serum Institut cover
Statens Serum Institut
Scholars:
3.6K
Papers: 3.2K
Citations: 4.1K
U
university of copenhagen
Scholars:
6.3K
Papers: 2.5K
Citations: 0
C
copenhagen university hospital
Scholars:
1.6K
Papers: 630
Citations: 0
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers