Methods for detecting Norovirus

A method for detecting the presence of Norovirus genogroup II (GII) in a stool sample comprising:

• contacting the stool sample with a primer pair that amplifies a Norovirus genogroup II (GII) target nucleic acid comprising nucleotides that are at least 80-95% identical to SEQ ID NO:
• 4 or a complement thereof, to produce a reaction-sample mixture under conditions where real-time RT-PCR amplification of the Norovirus genogroup II (GII) target nucleic acids, if present in the stool sample, occurs without extraction of target nucleic acids from the stool sample.

A method for selecting a patient suffering from acute gastroenteritis for treatment with a therapeutic agent that inhibits Norovirus genogroup II (GII) comprising:

• contacting a stool sample obtained from the patient with:
• contacting the stool sample with a primer pair that amplifies a Norovirus genogroup II (GII) target nucleic acid comprising nucleotides that are at least 80-95% identical to SEQ ID NO:
• 4 or a complement thereof, to produce a reaction-sample mixture under conditions where real-time RT-PCR amplification of the Norovirus genogroup II (GII) target nucleic acids, if present in the stool sample, occurs without extraction of target nucleic acids from the stool sample.