Researchers claim that they have created a new test which they claim can detect virtually any virus that infects people and animals, according to a research conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

There are several thousands of viruses that are known to cause illness in humans and animals, and diagnosis of these viruses can be really tough, at times requiring a battery of different tests. Because tests aren’t sensitive enough to detect low levels of viral bugs or are limited to detecting only those viruses suspected of being responsible for a patient's illness.

The study's senior author, Gregory Storch, MD, the Ruth L. Siteman Professor of Pediatrics, said in a statement that through this test one does not have to know what one is looking for.

“It can efficiently detect viruses that are present at very low levels. We think test will be especially useful in situations where diagnosis remains elusive after standard testing or in situations in which cause of a disease outbreak is unknown”, he said.

Researchers published their results online in September in the journal Genome Research. The results showed that in patient samples the test called as ViroCap can detect viruses not found by standard testing based on genome sequencing.

As per its developers the new test can be used to detect outbreaks of deadly viruses such as Ebola, Marburg and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), as well as more routine viruses, including rotavirus and norovirus.

To develop the test, the researchers targeted unique stretches of DNA or RNA from every known group of viruses that infects humans and animals.

"It also may be possible to modify the test so that it could be used to detect pathogens other than viruses, including bacteria, fungi and other microbes, as well as genes that would indicate the pathogen is resistant to treatment with antibiotics or other drugs," said co-author Kristine Wylie, PhD, assistant professor of pediatrics.