Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of detecting viral nucleic acids in a sample that include contacting the sample with one or more sets of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) primers specific for a viral nucleic acid of interest (such as hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, hepatitis E virus, human immunodeficiency virus, West Nile virus, or Dengue virus nucleic acids) under conditions sufficient to produce an amplification product and detecting the amplification product(s). In some examples, the amplification product is detected by gel electrophoresis, while in other examples, the amplification product is detected by detecting signal from a label included in one or more of the LAMP primers. Primers and kits for use for detection of viral nucleic acids by LAMP are also disclosed herein.