Description
A blood test (Gold Top Vacutainer) to measure Zika IgG and IgM antibodies to Zika and a urine sample to look for Zika virus RNA (rRT-PCR)
Laboratory Testing
Viral (rRT-PCR) – urine collected ≤14 days of illness onset)*
Viral (rRT-PCR) – both serum and urine for early/acute < 7 days after illness onset
A positive ZIKA rRT-PCR result demonstrates current Zika virus infection
Because viraemia decreases over time and recorded dates of illness onset may not be accurate,
a negative rRT-PCR result may not rule out virus infection and IgM antibody testing should be performed.
Virus-specific antibodies IgM and IgM should therefore also be tested from Day 7
*Urine Better than Blood for Zika Testing CDC says (Medscape 10/05/2016).
Reference Morbidity and Mortality Report (10th May 2016).
