Diedrich S, Schreier E (2000): Erster Ringversuch zur Diagnostik der Enteroviren (Anzucht und Typisierung). [First proficiency test for diagnosis of enteroviruses (cultivation and typing)]
Lab. Med. 24 (6-7): 325-327.

The diagnosis of polio- and enteroviruses has a great importance in the final stage of eradication of poliomyelitis. Laboratories carrying out diagnosis of enteroviruses had no opportunity to check the quality through participation in proficiency tests. In order to get an overview about the level of diagnosis of enteroviruses in Germany, the National Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Enteroviruses at the Robert Koch-Institut has carried out a proficiency test for cultivation and typing of enteroviruses (22 participants). Five faecal samples had to be cultivated in cell cultures and serotyped. The proficiency test has revealed difficulties in the detection of enteroviruses, especially serotyping. Only four participants have passed the test (80% correct results). The method of choice for the detection of enterovirus serotype is the neutralisation test with standard antisera. Other methods like immunofluorescence and PCR are less suitable for serotyping of enteroviruses.