Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus and is closely related to dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. Most people infected with Zika virus do not have symptoms, but when present they are usually mild and last less than seven days. The most common symptoms of a Zika infection are fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitits (red eyes). Other symptoms can also include muscle pain and headache.1 Zika virus infection may lead to an increased risk for Guillain-Barre syndrome, an illness that causes temporary paralysis. Zika virus infection during pregnancy has been linked to adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, most notably microcephaly and other serious brain anomalies.2, 3
Virus-specific IgM and neutralizing antibodies are typically present within the first week of illness and may be detectable for up to 12 weeks.1 Combined with patient demography and clinical findings, detection of IgM antibodies to Zika virus provides an essential tool for diagnosing and follow up of an acute or recent infection.
Leveraging over 40 years of infectious disease immunoassay development, DiaSorin has been able to develop a first-of-its-kind assay for Zika virus IgM detection. Using the proven LIAISON® XL platform along with an innovative assay format utilizing the Zika NS1 antigen, the LIAISON® XL Zika Capture IgM II assay yields results in as little as 51 minutes and has limited cross reactivity to other common flaviviruses such as Dengue and West Nile Virus.