Vickie,
All I can tell you is how I like to do things.
I am fortunate that virus testing is not financially difficult for me.
About one year ago, I made the decision that I wanted to be more "serious" about my orchid purchases.
(Read as wanting to buy more expensive/historic/uncommon cattleyas)
That is when my research began in investigating "things that kill orchids" other than humans of course
I have an arsenal of stuff to kill just about anything that dare come near my plants! Bugs, fungi, bacteria...my chances are better than theirs
Then there are viruses:
In reading about viruses (and primarily in regard to the cattleya genus) I noted some pics of color break virus (ORSV). Well, some of my blooms looked like that previously
I flipped through old pics etc with a pit in my stomach.
Furthermore, I had several plants that just would not bloom etc.
Many of my collection were in fact NOIDS but they were the first love...and I wanted to keep them even if I was moving onto different habits.
But I was not willing to harbor the risk of virus if I were to adjust my collecting habits to more expensive/historic/unusual plants.
I tested them all over the course of a about a week...all 88 of them. I lost about 15.
I kept ONE plant which I already had that was expensive/historic/unusual: LC.EvaRobinson 'Ingram'
She is CymMV positive and I will not infect any other plants IF I handle her carefully.
CymMV is well tolerated in catts and usually does not cause a problem with blooms etc...but for sure, I am and continue to be selective at keeping ANY plant with ANY virus.
For ORSV, it is highly contagious and most people will not tolerate it in a collection, myself included....these went strait to the dumpster! It is destructive and ruins the blooms of a catt.
Although CymMV is well tolerated in catts, the plant is weaker and more susceptible to other infections and will grow/bloom less vigorously than it's non-virused counterpart. If you keep Cymbidiums instead of Catts, then you would worry more about this virus as it is more destructive for the cymbidiums.
So ultimately, it is a matter of cost, preference, and what it takes to give you peace of mind.
I will be the first to admit that virus testing a $10 plant is not really practical from a cost standpoint.
If my kitchen were full of 50 or so plants like this, I would not very likely spend 5-6 bucks a piece testing them.
At this point, I have as part of my "crap on hand" Agdia ELISA tests in my fridge to test any plant now coming into my collection.
More food for thought, if a viral infection is early, theoretically, the viral load in the plant may be too small to detect any virus and you can get a FALSE NEGATIVE test. So virus testing should be recorded for plants, and repeated periodically. False positives also occurs as well. Fortunately, neither of these happen with great frequency.
Some argue then why test? I have made my points regarding this in other forums.
Virus testing can be approached many different ways imo.
It is a commitment for me
Eyebabe
I know that's not a good trait, but orchids are certainly helping me overcome my character flaw (I have no choice) Patience, patience, patience. I need more of that. 
I would have to go to a site that shows the picture and name of the orchid that I would like to have, write the name down...and go from there. Hopefully, no one from a nursery (or anyone, for that matter) would ask me questions...this is where the embarressment comes in. confused: 
) I'm trying to read my books when I can, but get interrupted often by 'real life', so now my main concern is keeping my orchids alive, healthy...blooming is a fringe benefit now. 2 1/2 yrs. experience is very little, but I'm hoping to learn more as I move along with my new hobby. I also have another hobby...music...my first love, orchids running a very close 2nd. I have learned the majority of what I know from all of you on OrchidBoard, and I very much appreciate everyone's replies and advice!! I'm simply a sponge trying to soak up all that I can.
Hybrid Mode
