The observed detection limits for the gold-aptamer nanoconstructs was comparable to previously reported gold nanoparticle-based detection systems that have been used for laboratory identification of viruses (≥ 1.4×10 -14 g/mL) . Clinically, enteroviral loads are typically acquired from nasal swabs and their concentrations are recorded as log10 copies/mL using PCR . Therefore, the detection limit of gold aptamer-nanoconstructs (13 log10 copies/mL) would fall outside of the nasal swab based clinically recorded relevant range (5.3 (±1.5) -6.4 (±1.3) log10 copies/mL) . It is important to note that our detection limit is determined without any PCR amplification viral nucleic acid. The difference in detection limit could be readily overcome through the utility of alternate sample collection methods (throat swabs) as well as concentrating viral load through method optimisation, such as the addition of virus isolation and purification steps.