Lassa fever: A comprehensive review of virology, clinical management, and global health implications

Table 2 Diagnostic techniques for Lassa fever

Method	Type	Sample	Turnaround time	Advantages	Limitations
Reverse transcription PCR	Molecular	Blood or tissue	Few hours	Highly sensitive and specific; early detection	Requires specialized labs and trained personnel
ELISA (IgM, IgG, antigen)	Serological	Serum or plasma	1-2 days	Useful for acute and retrospective diagnosis	Limited sensitivity in early stages
Virus isolation	Culture (definitive)	Blood or tissue	Several days	Confirmatory; research reference standard	Requires Biosafety Laboratory-4 facility; high biosafety risk
Next-generation sequencing	Genomic surveillance	Blood or tissue	Variable	Tracks evolution and strain diversity	Expensive and technology-intensive
Rapid diagnostic tests	Immunochromatography	Blood sample	15-30 min	Fast, suitable for remote settings	Still under development and validation
Supportive laboratory indicators	Clinical chemistry	Blood, urine	Few hours	Suggestive (e.g., elevated aspartate aminotransferase, thrombocytopenia)	Not confirmatory; supportive only