- A doctor or other healthcare provider will inquire about any recent trip and any signs and symptoms to diagnose Zika.
How much does it cost to get a Zika test?
Antibody IgM Test for Zika Virus Near You You may quickly request a Zika Virus Antibody IgM test from a licensed medical professional through Push Health, get it tested at a lab near you, and receive your results electronically. The total fees for the test order, lab fees, and an electronic copy of the results are $374.05.
Is there a diagnostic test for Zika?
Zika is a virus spread largely by mosquito bites from infected Aedes mosquitos and less commonly through sexual transmission. Testing detects the Zika virus’s genetic material (RNA) in blood, urine, CSF, or amniotic fluid, as well as antibodies in the blood produced in response to Zika virus infection.
About 80% of those infected with the Zika virus will experience no symptoms at all, while others will experience relatively mild disease. The prognosis for full recovery is very favorable for those who acquire symptoms. Fever, rash, joint discomfort, and conjunctivitis (pink eye) are the most frequent Zika symptoms, which can last anywhere from a few days to a week. These symptoms are comparable to those of dengue fever and chikungunya, two mosquito-borne diseases. Because Zika virus symptoms are similar to those of other diseases, laboratory testing is required for Zika virus diagnosis.
Blood and urine tests are commonly used to identify Zika virus infection. Molecular testing for Zika virus (PCR), which identify the virus itself, or antibody tests, which detect antibodies made by the immune system after a person has been exposed to the virus, are two options for laboratory tests.
Zika virus outbreaks have been documented in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands since the first human case in 1952. In May 2015, Zika was discovered in Brazil, marking the virus’s first appearance in the Americas. It has swiftly spread over the Americas since then. Updates and more information regarding the Zika virus’s status in the United States can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website.
While most persons infected with the Zika virus do not have any apparent or severe symptoms, it can put a pregnant woman and her unborn child at risk of catastrophic consequences, such as miscarriage and birth deformities. Brazilian health officials began reporting an increase in Zika infections in May 2015, as well as an increase in newborns born with microcephaly (smaller than expected heads). The CDC has established that Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause severe microcephaly and other birth abnormalities since the outbreak began in Brazil.
Microcephaly causes developmental impairments, seizures, hearing loss, and vision loss in babies, while severe microcephaly causes a range of lifetime problems, including developmental disabilities, seizures, hearing loss, and visual loss. Other effects of Zika infection during pregnancy are still unknown to scientists. If you’re pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant, the CDC’s online page contains the most up-to-date advice on how to stay safe.
The Zika virus has been associated to the development of Guillain-Barré syndrome in a few cases (GBS). GBS is an autoimmune condition that causes muscle weakness and paralysis by prompting the body to attack its own nerve system. Researchers are still trying to figure out what causes GBS, although the majority of people who get it get it as a result of a viral or bacterial infection. The CDC is continuing looking into the connection between Zika and GBS.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel warning in January 2016 for locations where the Zika virus is prevalent. Pregnant women should avoid particular Zika-infected areas, and women considering pregnancy should consult their healthcare practitioners before traveling to those places, according to the notice. The Zika virus is still without a vaccine or therapy. The easiest approach to avoid contracting Zika is to stay away from Aedes mosquito bites.
Because Zika virus information is always changing, visit the CDC’s website for the most up-to-date information.
How is the sample collected for testing?
A needle is inserted into a vein in the arm to obtain a blood sample. By voiding into a clean container, a urine sample is collected. A sample of cerebrospinal fluid or amniotic fluid may be taken by a health care provider on occasion.
Is Zika Free 2020?
In Costa Rica, active Zika virus transmission has been detected. Because there is a scarcity of information, there may be delays in detecting and reporting new cases.
During the day, all travelers should take precautions against mosquito bites. Travelers who are pregnant should seek advice from a travel medicine specialist and postpone their trip to this nation.
The Zika Virus (ZIKV), which belongs to the Flaviviridae family, causes Zika Virus infection. Infected daytime biting female Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which are active from dawn to dusk, are the primary vectors of the virus. Other mosquitoes belonging to the Aedes genus have been found to transmit the Zika virus. The virus can be passed from a mother to her unborn child.
Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, tropical Southeast Asia, Oceania, and parts of Africa all have the Zika virus. Every traveler is at risk. Long-term travelers, as well as aid or missionary workers, who travel to areas where the Zika Virus is endemic, are more vulnerable.
In newborns born to Zika-infected pregnant mothers, neurological problems such as Guillain-Barré syndrome (progressive muscle weakness that can lead to temporary paralysis) and microcephaly (decreased head size that can contribute to developmental delays) have been linked to the virus.
How accurate is the Zika test?
There is no such thing as a 100 percent accurate test. When a test result is negative in the presence of a real infection, the results can be misleadingly encouraging.
- Even if a person is infected, if the IgM test is performed too soon after infection, when antibody levels are not yet high enough, the results may be negative.
- If the IgM test is done after the levels of IgM have dropped, the results may be negative. Similarly, even if the virus is no longer in the blood, Zika could still be present in other bodily fluids if nucleic acid testing on serum is done after the virus is no longer in the blood (e.g., semen). The blood test would be negative in certain cases, but the person could still be infected and infect others.
- Because of, for example, longer IgM persistence after a previous infection has resolved or cross-reactivity of the IgM test with another virus, IgM test results can be positive even though there is no current infection.
Risks of Infection Before Conception and Fertility Treatment
Because Zika virus infection can cause microcephaly and other severe fetal brain problems, it’s crucial to plan your pregnancy around the risk of Zika. There is a scarcity of knowledge about the risk of negative pregnancy outcomes associated with periconceptional Zika virus infection (defined as infection during 8 weeks before conception or 6 weeks before last menstrual period). There have been no reports of negative pregnancy outcomes following periconceptional Zika virus infection to yet. Congenital infection and unfavorable pregnancy outcomes have been linked to infections with other viruses (e.g., CMV, rubella, and parvovirus) around the time of conception, albeit the exact timing of infection relative to conception was occasionally ambiguous.
There is no evidence that a fetus born after the virus has cleared the woman’s body is at risk of fetal Zika infection. According to current research, Zika virus infection prior to pregnancy does not increase the incidence of birth abnormalities in subsequent pregnancies. According to what we know about similar diseases, once a person has been infected with Zika virus, he or she is likely to be immune to future Zika infections. We currently do not have a test to determine whether or not someone is immune to the Zika virus.
Although no cases of Zika virus transmission have been documented during fertility treatment, transmission through donated gametes or embryos is theoretically possible. The Zika virus has been found in sperm, indicating that sexual transmission has happened. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States has published guidance.
Can I be tested for Zika before getting pregnant?
The Zika and Testing webpage contains the CDC’s Zika virus testing recommendations for non-pregnant women and men. Women and men who have been diagnosed with Zika or who may have been exposed to Zika through sex or travel should wait before trying to conceive, according to the CDC.
How long does Zika test results take?
Zika virus testing is used to detect a Zika infection in a person who has no signs or symptoms, as well as to evaluate whether a person who has Zika symptoms has been infected after being exposed to the virus in a Zika-infested area. It might also be used to test persons who have had sexual contact with someone who has recently been to a Zika-affected nation.
Because symptoms may resemble those of other diseases, such as dengue fever or chikungunya infection, or the patient may be silent, Zika infection can be difficult to detect without laboratory tests. There are two types of testing accessible right now:
- Molecular Zika virus tests (PCR) detect the presence of the virus’s RNA and can diagnose Zika infection if performed within a week of the onset of symptoms. One form of Real Time RT-PCR test can detect and distinguish between Zika and the two other mosquito-borne viruses, dengue and chikungunya. Blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), amniotic fluid, and urine samples can all be used for this test.
After 7 days of illness, molecular blood tests are unlikely to identify Zika. For at least two weeks after symptoms appear, urine tests can identify Zika RNA. Urine may be the best specimen for detecting Zika RNA during the first three weeks of illness, according to a recent study. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends testing both urine and blood samples if taken less than 7 days after the onset of illness.
According to the CDC, if a PCR test is negative, an antibody test can be utilized to help establish a diagnosis (see below).
- When a person has been exposed to a virus, antibody blood tests detect the IgM class of antibodies produced by the immune system. An antibody test can be used after a negative PCR result or as an alternate test for people who may have been infected but have passed the time when PCR can be performed. IgM antibodies occur in the blood four to five days after the sickness begins and remain for about a month. If you take the test outside of this time frame, you can get false-negative results.
If a person has been infected with a virus that is identical to dengue fever, IgM antibody testing can be positive (called cross-reaction). If an initial IgM antibody test is positive, a second test known as the Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT) is used to confirm the presence of Zika virus antibodies and to rule out other viral infections.
The time it takes for test results to become available varies based on the location of the person being tested and whether the state public health laboratory is performing Zika testing. It’s possible that some samples will need to be forwarded to the CDC for examination. According to the CDC, findings can take up to three weeks in most cases.
When is it ordered?
When a person shows signs and symptoms of Zika infection and has recently gone to locations where the virus is actively spread by mosquitos or had sexual contact with someone who has recently traveled from an area where Zika is present, Zika testing may be ordered.
The signs and symptoms of Zika usually linger for two to seven days. The following are some of the most common indications and symptoms:
Asymptomatic pregnant women who have recently been to a region with active Zika transmission may be offered the antibody test, according to CDC recommendations. Pregnant women who have had sexual contact with someone who has recently traveled to a Zika-affected nation may be tested as well.
When a baby is born with microcephaly, testing may be done (an abnormally small head). A person with Guillain-Barre syndrome who is also at risk for the Zika virus may be examined.
What does the test result mean?
- A PCR test that detects the virus’s RNA is often regarded as the most reliable method of diagnosis. A Zika PCR test that is positive is considered conclusive. The state’s public health department should be notified of any good results.
- A negative PCR result could imply that there is no infection or that the virus level is too low to detect. This can happen if the blood test is done after the 7-day window has passed and/or the urine test is done after the 23-week window has passed in which the virus is present in the sample. Following a negative PCR result, the CDC suggests antibody testing (see below).
- Following a positive IgM test for Zika antibodies, a second test known as the Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT) is used to establish the presence of Zika virus antibodies. Because of the danger of false-positive results, no patient management choices should be made based solely on IgM blood tests (serology) until the PRNT is completed. A recent Zika virus infection is indicated by a PRNT positive for Zika virus but negative for dengue virus.
- IgM antibody testing that come back negative do not rule out Zika virus infection. A negative result could indicate that the person tested does not have Zika and that their symptoms are caused by something else. It could also suggest that the antibody level is too low to detect. It’s possible that the person still has a Zika infection; it’s simply that it’s too soon after initial exposure to the virus to create measurable antibody levels. When testing is done within 7 days of illness, PCR testing (above) may be performed early in the infectious process before the formation of antibodies.
Because information regarding Zika is constantly changing, visit the CDC’s website for the most up-to-date information on the virus and testing.
Is there anything else I should know?
Tests for the Zika virus or antibodies provide little information regarding the health of the fetus in Zika virus-infected pregnant mothers.
Because physical signs like rash or hurting joints are not specific to Zika, they are not a reliable way to diagnose the virus.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered that all donated blood and blood components be screened for the Zika virus. Two experimental tests have been approved by the FDA for this purpose. The studies were approved under a “investigational new device (IND)” protocol, which means they didn’t go through the usual regulatory process before becoming live, which can take a long time. The tests look for the virus’s genetic material to see if it’s present (RNA). Blood that tests positive for the virus is taken out of circulation and not used for transfusions.
How long does it take to get results?
The time it takes for results to be available varies depending on where you live and whether or not your local or state public health laboratory performs Zika testing. It’s possible that some samples will need to be tested at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Within three weeks, test results may be available. However, during the summer, when arbovirus (viruses carried by mosquito and tick bites) activity is high, it may take longer.
Can Zika virus be passed from person to person?
Yes. It can be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her unborn child. It can be passed from person to person through sexual contact in rare situations. Pregnant women should use condoms with male sexual partners who have lived or traveled to Zika-affected areas until more is known about Zika and pregnancy, according to the CDC. Zika can be spread through blood transfusions or organ donation in rare situations. In Brazil, health officials are still looking into cases of Zika infection via blood transfusion.
Can Zika be prevented?
There is currently no Zika vaccine and no therapy for the virus. Protecting against mosquito bites is the most important factor in limiting virus exposure. To avoid mosquito bites, use the following precautions:
- Use only EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), or IR3535m as directed by the manufacturer, taking special care to avoid pregnant women and children.
- Sleep in rooms with bug screens or under a mosquito net.
- Drain water from mosquito breeding sites like buckets, pots, and old tires.
Because Zika can be spread through sexual contact, using a condom appropriately and consistently when having sex will help protect you. Abstinence from sex is the only way to ensure that you do not contract Zika through sexual contact.
How long do Zika antibodies last?
Antibodies to Zika virus have been found to stay in the body for several months. You may have been infected before becoming pregnant if you lived in or frequently traveled to a region where local mosquitoes carry Zika. This suggests you may have acquired anti-Zika antibodies prior to becoming pregnant.
Is there a cure for Zika babies?
Antiviral treatment is being researched, but no vaccine or drug to prevent or treat Zika infection is presently available. To avoid dehydration, get plenty of rest and drink plenty of water if you’re experiencing symptoms. Fever can be treated with acetaminophen. If you are pregnant, your maternal-fetal medicine expert will continue to monitor you after your symptoms have passed to look for fetal abnormalities.
Is Zika still a thing 2021?
The Zika virus causes a viral infection known as Zika. The virus is spread most commonly by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito.
The first human cases of Zika were discovered in the 1950s, and outbreaks have been documented in tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands in recent years. Prior to 2014, there were very few Zika cases linked to travel in the United States. That changed in 2015 and 2016, when the Zika virus spread across the Americas in huge epidemics.
Zika was not a notifiable disease in the United States in 2015, although 62 cases in travelers returning from afflicted locations were reported to Arbonet, the CDC’s national arboviral monitoring system.
The number of travelers returning with Zika rose to 4897 in 2016. With 218 people sick in Florida and 6 in Texas, Florida and Texas were the only states in the US to report locally acquired infection.
In 2017, the number of Zika infections fell dramatically, with rates in previously hotspots like Brazil dropping dramatically. In 2017, 452 symptomatic Zika cases were reported in the United States, with 437 of those cases originating in visitors returning from afflicted locations. Seven instances were acquired locally, while the remaining eight were acquired through other means such as sexual or laboratory transmission. In the continental United States, however, no local Zika transmission has been reported since 2018, and fewer than 100 travelers have contracted the disease.
Only one traveler caught Zika in 2021, and no confirmed cases of Zika utilizing molecular testing have been reported from US territories.
Although there are no current outbreaks of Zika, there is still a risk of infection because the virus is still present in over 90 countries.
Zika, like other epidemic-prone diseases (such as dengue and chikungunya), has a “ebb and flow” infection pattern. Check to see which countries are at risk for Zika before traveling internationally.