I found a more recent 2009 article by Deborah Mathews of UC Rivierside is detailed but not too technical: 'Optimizing detection and management of virus diseases of plants' http://ucanr.org/sites/ucnfa/files/62197.pdf On page 3 there is a summary of how to distinguish symptoms similar to those caused by viruses. This article also mentions ELISA and estimates cost of sending a sample to a lab at "$50 to 75 per sample for first virus, less for each additional virus test". The list of hosts of two particular viruses on page 6 includes several bulb species. - Gastil On Apr 8, 2014, at 7:45 AM, M. Gastil-Buhl wrote: > Rick Buell asks > "What labs in the US or elsewhere have you used for testing? Can you > describe the approximate expense of this service?" > and I too would appreciate this information. There is a 1997 > publication from UC Davis with the promising title > "Easy On-Site Tests for Fungi and Viruses in Nurseries and > Greenhouses". > > http://homeorchard.ucdavis.edu/8002.pdf > > Although that was written 17 years ago perhaps some of it is still > relevant. On page 2 it gives a useful overview of virus diagnosis, > then introduces the ELISA technique. Is this ELISA the technique > currently used? "The virus test kits require more skill and > patience ..." so perhaps sending material to a lab is a better > option. Would a test kit for crops be relevant to testing our bulb > plants? > > - Gastil > >