A new StaRT-PCR approach to detect and quantify fish Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus (VHSv): Enhanced quality control with internal standards

► Standardized Reverse Transcription PCR (StaRT-PCR) has unique internal standards. ► We diagnose and quantify fish Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus (VHSv) using StaRT-PCR. ► VHSv kills >80 Eurasian and North American species, lacking accurate diagnostics. ► StaRT-PCR is VHSv specific to a single molecule and yields no false negatives. ► Unlike other tests, StaRT-PCR uniquely controls for EDTA and RNA interference.