ZIKA Virus diagnostics
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne virus that can infect humans, is likely to spread across the Americas.
Zika virus infection provokes a range of symptoms that are common with other arboviral diseases such as Dengue and Chikungunya, and render its differential diagnosis difficult. In many cases, a biological diagnosis from patient specimen such as blood or urine is needed. From 0 to 7 days after the onset of symptoms, the viral genome can be detected by molecular biology techniques such as qRT-PCR. From day 5 after the onset of symptoms, the serological response to the virus (IgM and/or IgG) can be detected.
EVAg is mobilizing experts in its network to work on making available new tools to the scientific communities in the diagnostic and research field.
We have just released a freeze-dried genomic standard for molecular detection of Zika virus, made of an inactivated culture supernatant of strain H/PF/2013 (coding sequence of the virus: GenBank KJ776791.1) with quantified genomic titre. A Freeze-dried EQA for molecular detection of Zika virus was additionally made available recently.
We also have authenticated strains available.
The list of available reagents as well as recommended ordering procedure is described here for NON U.S. laboratories AND for U.S. laboratories..
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