Conventional cell culture methods for the detection of enteroviruses (EV) and the Hepatitis A virus (HAV) in the environment are expensive, time consuming and may not detect noncytopathogenic strains. Direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a rapid, sensitive alternative but it is often complicated by inhibitory factors and small reaction volumes. An integrated cell culture/PCR (ICC/PCR) approach has been developed that provides a rapid detection method for viable and noncytopathogenic viruses in PCR inhibitory samples. The objective of this study was to develop a rapid method for the detection of viable HAV and EV in environmental samples. Optimization of ICC/PCR for cytopathogenic and noncytopathogenic viruses may lead to a timely and cost effective method for routine monitoring of environmental samples for the presence of human viruses.