Recent progress on rapid diagnostic methods for viral diseases

Viral diseases pose a persistent and evolving threat to global public health, with far-reaching impacts on clinical practice, epidemiology, and socioeconomic stability. Over the past decade, frequent outbreaks of emerging viruses (e.g., SARS-CoV-2) and re-emerging pathogens (e.g., Ebola virus, Zika virus, African swine fever virus) have underscored the need for efficient and timely diagnostic tools. Rapid and accurate viral detection is crucial for guiding infection control, initiating targeted therapy, and preventing the spread of epidemics. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in rapid viral diagnostic methods, covering nucleic acid-based techniques (PCR/qPCR, isothermal amplification, and CRISPR-Cas systems), immunological assays (ELISA and lateral flow immunoassays), and biosensor-based platforms (electrochemical and optical biosensors). It elaborates on the technical principles, application scenarios, advantages, and limitations of each method, and discusses strategies to address existing challenges. Additionally, the review explores the integration of different diagnostic technologies and outlines future directions, including the development of multiplexed, intelligent diagnostic systems and the application of nanotechnology and artificial intelligence. This work aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current viral diagnostics and to inform future research to improve global capacity for viral disease prevention and control.