Routine detection of equine arteritis virus (EAV) can be achieved by virus isolation (VI) in cell culture, or by the amplification of viral genome by molecular methods. To simplify molecular diagnosis, a number of different Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and RT-nested PCR (RT-nPCR) assays were compared, and a one-tube method was developed and optimised utilizing a fluorogenic probe (TaqMan). An artificial RNA template (Mimic) and associated probe were also constructed to provide in-tube validation of the RT-PCR system. To assess the utility of the RT-PCR TaqMan assay, 28 different isolates of EAV representing different genetic groups of American and European strains were tested. Furthermore, the ability of VI and RT-PCR TaqMan assay to detect EAV in different biological matrices such as semen, nasal and faecal swabs and blood was compared. All 28 EAV strains were detected by the RT-PCR TaqMan assay. The results of TaqMan and VI testing were in agreement for 30 of the 33 semen samples and all of the 50 other clinical specimens examined: the RT-PCR TaqMan assay detected 18 positive semen samples, three more than VI. In conclusion, the one-tube RT-PCR TaqMan assay is a rapid, reliable method for the detection of EAV.