Diagnosis of Poliomyelitis Lumbar puncture Viral culture (stool, throat, and cerebrospinal fluid) Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction of blood or cerebrospinal fluid Serologic testing for poliovirus serotypes, other enteroviruses, and West Nile virus When there are no central nervous system manifestations, symptomatic polio (abortive poliomyelitis) resembles other systemic viral infections and is typically not considered or diagnosed except during an epidemic.