Which laboratory method, alongside clinical assessment, is commonly used to diagnose Ebola?

Which laboratory method, alongside clinical assessment, is commonly used to diagnose Ebola?

• A. RT-PCR, virus isolation
• B. CT scan
• C. Urinalysis only
• D. Blood pressure measurement

Answer: (A)

Diagnosing Ebola relies on confirming the virus in a person with compatible symptoms. The best-supported laboratory method is RT-PCR, which detects Ebola virus RNA in blood quickly and with high accuracy during the acute phase of illness, making it the main tool for confirming infection alongside clinical assessment. Virus isolation can provide definitive confirmation by growing the virus in specialized, high-containment labs, but it takes longer and requires extremely safe facilities, so it’s not used for routine rapid diagnosis and is limited to reference or research settings. Imaging like CT scans, urinalysis, or simple vital signs cannot establish Ebola infection on their own; they may reveal complications but not confirm the disease.

Diagnosing Ebola relies on confirming the virus in a person with compatible symptoms. The best-supported laboratory method is RT-PCR, which detects Ebola virus RNA in blood quickly and with high accuracy during the acute phase of illness, making it the main tool for confirming infection alongside clinical assessment. Virus isolation can provide definitive confirmation by growing the virus in specialized, high-containment labs, but it takes longer and requires extremely safe facilities, so it’s not used for routine rapid diagnosis and is limited to reference or research settings. Imaging like CT scans, urinalysis, or simple vital signs cannot establish Ebola infection on their own; they may reveal complications but not confirm the disease.