Biopsies - viral continued

ACEM

Virological electron microscope methods

2) Skin lesions

In cases where the skin shows lesions or blisters thought to involve a virus infection (such as chicken pox), then some fluid can be aspirated from these lesions and placed on a coated electron microscope specimen grid.

After staining, the grid is examined under an electron microscope for viruses such as Herpesviruses, Poxviruses or Papillomaviruses (wart viruses). As these viruses are generally much larger than those found in cases of gastroenteritis (diarrhoea and/or vomiting), a lower magnification (about 40,000 times) is used for screening. Herpes viruses from a skin lesion:

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