A rapid screening assay for detecting individual RNA species in field isolates of rotaviruses.

A method is described that allows the rapid screening of field isolates of rotavirus for the detection of specific viral RNA segments. Cloned cDNA copies of viral genomic RNAs are employed for detection in the assay which makes use of the dot-hybridization technique of Thomas (1980). The assay developed was shown to be sufficiently sensitive and specific to allow the genetic composition of virions to be determined over a wide range of concentrations. The feasibility of using the method developed for both the analysis of genetic reassortants prepared in vitro and for screening field isolates to detect putative genome reassortment events is demonstrated.