Euroimmun offers the worldwide first specific serological tests for Zika Virus.
These diagnostic kits are CE Marked and registered with the TGA on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
ELISA (IgG, IgM) and indirect immunofluorescence (IgG, IgM) tests are available.
These diagnostic kits are CE Marked and registered with the TGA on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
ELISA (IgG, IgM) and indirect immunofluorescence (IgG, IgM) tests are available.
Clinical significance
The Zika virus belongs to the arboviruses of the Flaviviridae family. Transmitted through bites of mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, there have been major outbreaks in some tropical and subtropical regions.
Zika symptoms are near-identical to those of a Dengue or Chikungunya virus infection. After an incubation time of five to ten days, a flu-like illness may develop with fever, rash, arthralgia, myalgia, headache, and conjunctivitis.
Connections between Zika virus infection in pregnancy and microcephaly in the newborn have been made. Since the direct detection via RT-PCR of the virus or viral RNA is only possibly during the viraemic phase (up to one week), and the relatively mild disease course often causes patients to seek medical advice at a more advanced stage of disease, serological detection is of major importance.
Specific antibodies can be detected several days after the onset of symptoms. IgM antibodies remain detectable for two to three months, and sometimes up to eight months as a persisting low specific titre. A significant titre increase in specific IgG antibodies is also evidence of an acute infection.
Zika symptoms are near-identical to those of a Dengue or Chikungunya virus infection. After an incubation time of five to ten days, a flu-like illness may develop with fever, rash, arthralgia, myalgia, headache, and conjunctivitis.
Connections between Zika virus infection in pregnancy and microcephaly in the newborn have been made. Since the direct detection via RT-PCR of the virus or viral RNA is only possibly during the viraemic phase (up to one week), and the relatively mild disease course often causes patients to seek medical advice at a more advanced stage of disease, serological detection is of major importance.
Specific antibodies can be detected several days after the onset of symptoms. IgM antibodies remain detectable for two to three months, and sometimes up to eight months as a persisting low specific titre. A significant titre increase in specific IgG antibodies is also evidence of an acute infection.
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Anti-Zika ELISA |
Indirect Immunofluorescence |
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The Anti-Zika ELISA (IgG, IgM) is suitable for the serodiagnosis of acute and past Zika virus infections. Due to the use of virus-specific NS1 antigen, cross-reactions can be virtually excluded.
Thus, Zika virus infections can be discriminated from infections with other viruses such as Dengue and Chikungunya, which cause similar symptoms and are endemic in the same regions. The detection of virus-specific IgM antibodies or a significant increase in the IgG titre in a follow-up sample indicates an acute infection. Further, the determination of specific antibodies is relevant for epidemiological studies and for clarification of links between Zika and other diseases (for example, microcephaly and Guillain Barré syndrome). |
The Arbovirus Fever Mosaic 2 (IgG, IgM) is based on cells infected with different tropical and subtropical arboviruses. Laboratory diagnostic tests are important for differential diagnosis of Zika, Chikungunya and Dengue fever, since the symptoms of the diseases are very similar, making clinical discrimination virtually impossible.
Since antibody cross reactions between Dengue and Zika viruses can occur, the Arbovirus Fever Mosaic 2 was developed to enable secure interpretation of test results and differential diagnostic delimitation. Euroimmun's Zika indirect immunofluorescence tests use BIOCHIPs, which allow standardised testing of multiple samples on one slide. |
Scientific research into euroimmun zika tests
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Sexual transmission of Zika virus in Germany, April 2016
C Frank et al, Rapid Communications, 9th June 2016 - WHO Collaboration Centre in Hamburg, Germany was used for diagnosis of Zika virus infection in male and female patients in the study of the first case of male-to-female sexual transmission of Zika Virus in Germany |
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Zika Virus antibody detection: Evaluation of three different serologic methodologies
Granger et al, Mayo Clinic, 20th May 2016 - 100% specificity for Anti-Zika Virus ELISA (IgM) with CDC MAC-ELISA - No cross-reactions from sera from early convalescent stage Dengue infections (100% specificity) or with sera from suspected secondary Dengue infections (100% specificity) |
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The Growing Global Threat of Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya Viruses
Dr Jacqueline Gosink, Medlab, 13th April 2016 - 100% sensitivity for Anti-Zika Virus ELISA (IgM, IgG) - 97% specificity for IgM and IgG in combination - No cross-reactivity with other flaviviruses - 96-99% sensitivity for IIFT - 95-100% specificity for IIFT |
