On April 28th, the FDA granted Emergency Use Authorization to Quest Diagnostics for an RT-PCR test to detect Zika Virus in human samples.
“The test was developed by the reference laboratory business of Quest’s Focus Diagnostics, Inc., subsidiary. The proprietary molecular test is intended for the qualitative detection of RNA from the Zika virus in human serum specimens from certain individuals. Quest Diagnostics plans to make the new test broadly available to physicians for patient testing, including in Puerto Rico, early in the week of May 2.
“Zika Virus RNA Qualitative Real-Time RT-PCR test is a real-time RT-PCR test intended only for the qualitative detection of RNA from the Zika virus in human serum specimens from patients meeting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Zika virus clinical criteria (e.g., clinical signs and symptoms associated with Zika virus infection) and/or CDC Zika virus epidemiological criteria (e.g., history of residence in or travel to a geographic region with active Zika transmission at the time of travel, or other epidemiologic criteria for which Zika virus testing may be indicated ). Testing is limited to qualified laboratories designated by Focus Diagnostics, Inc.
“This test is intended for use by trained clinical laboratory personnel qualified by state and federal regulations who have received specific training on the use of the test in qualified laboratories designated by Focus Diagnostics, Inc., and, in the United States, certified under CLIA to perform high complexity tests.”
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