Treat the substance with enzymes that destroy all nucleic acids, and then determine whether the substance is still infectious.
Bacteria can replicate themselves, but viruses need a host to replicate. Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, but viral infections cannot. Viruses are not living, they are not cells, they do not respond to stimuli and they need a host to grow and replicate.
Prion diseases are confirmed by taking a sample of brain tissue during a biopsy or after death. However, healthcare providers can perform many tests beforehand to diagnose prion diseases such as CJD and rule out other diseases with similar symptoms. Prions are smaller than viruses and can only be seen with an electron microscope when clustered.
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