Markers for differentiating hog cholera and bovine viral diarrhea viruses were studied using Tween 80, chloroform, trichlorotrifluoroethane and tri (n-butyl) phosphate. Attenuated A and virulent Ames strains of hog cholera virus were employed. Moreover, the NADL PK-15 cell culture adopted strain and low cell culture passaged Purdue strain of bovine viral diarrhea virus were used. These viruses were reacted with 2,500 micrograms/ml of Tween 80 for one hour at 37 degrees C. When attenuated A and virulent Ames strains of hog cholera virus with titers greater than 10(6) and 10(5) plaque forming units respectively, were reacted with Tween 80 the titer of each strains was reduced by approximately 10(4) plaque forming units of virus. When either strain of bovine viral diarrhea virus was reacted with Tween 80, virus was not detected.