Zika Virus

Zika Symptoms

Zika virus infection can cause symptoms similar to those seen in patients with dengue and chikungunya virus infections. Many people infected with Zika virus experience mild symptoms lasting for several days to a week. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital and very rarely die of Zika virus infection. In rare cases, Zika virus infections can cause health complications. Testing can guide the management of symptoms and measures to prevent further transmission.

Testing within the United States to determine possible Zika virus infection should be limited to specimens collected from patients meeting CDC’s clinical and epidemiological criteria for testing.

Information And Guidance For Zika Testing

CDC | Zika Virus
CDC | Clinical Testing and Diagnosis for Zika Virus Disease
ARUP Consult^® | Dengue, West Nile, and Other Mosquito-Borne Arboviruses

Available ARUP Tests

Serology

ARUP Laboratories offers IgM antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MAC-ELISA) detection for Zika virus infections.

Zika Virus IgM Antibody Capture (MAC), by ELISA (2013942)

Additional Information

Cross-reactive antibodies due to other flavivirus infections may be detected and are reported as “presumptive other flavivirus.” Testing for dengue and West Nile virus should be performed in conjunction with Zika virus testing.
ARUP will report all “presumptive Zika” and “presumptive other flavivirus” results to the appropriate public health authorities for epidemiological case tracking.

PCR

Zika virus RNA is generally detectable in serum and/or urine during the acute phase of infection and up to 14 days following onset of symptoms, if present. Positive results are indicative of current infection. ARUP Laboratories offers FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)-approved Zika Virus by PCR on blood (serum) and urine.

Zika Virus by PCR, Blood (2014065)
Zika Virus by PCR, Urine (2014069)

Additional information

A negative PCR result does not exclude Zika virus infection and serum should be analyzed for IgM antibodies to Zika virus.
- If serologic testing is needed on a patient-matched serum specimen, contact ARUP client services to order Zika Virus IgM Antibody Capture (MAC), by ELISA (test code 2013942).