External Quality Assessment for Zika Virus Molecular Diagnostic Testing, Brazil

• Main Authors: Carlo Fischer, Celia Pedroso, Alfredo Mendrone, Ana Maria Bispo de Filippis, Antonio Carlos Rosário Vallinoto, Bergmann Morais Ribeiro, Edison Luiz Durigon, Ernesto T.A. Marques, Gubio S. Campos, Isabelle F.T. Viana, José Eduardo Levi, Luciano Cesar Scarpelli, Mauricio Lacerda Nogueira, Michele de Souza Bastos, Nathalia C. Santiago Souza, Ricardo Khouri, Sanny M. Costa Lira, Shirley Vasconcelos Komninakis, Cécile Baronti, Rémi N. Charrel, Beate M. Kümmerer, Christian Drosten, Carlos Brites, Xavier de Lamballerie, Matthias Niedrig, Eduardo Martins Netto, Jan Felix Drexler
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2018-05-01
• Series: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Zika virus; viruses; diagnostics; surveillance; real-time RT-PCR; vector-borne infections
• Online Access: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/24/5/17-1747_article

We conducted an external quality assessment of Zika virus molecular diagnostic tests in Brazil using a new Zika virus standard. Of 15 laboratories, 73% showed limited sensitivity and specificity. Viral load estimates varied significantly. Continuous quality assurance is required for adequate estimates of Zika virus–associated disease and determination of patient care.