Zika fever immunodiagnostics: overview of test systems

The threat of rapid spread of Zika virus beyond endemic regions has given rise to more research in field of epidemiology and clinic, as well as to the search for Zika fiver new diagnostic and preventive tools. Between 2013 and 2017 in Russia 18 cases of infection transmission by travellers were reported. Fever Zika reference monitoring center in Volgograd Research Anti-Plague Institute (Volgograd, Russian Federation) provides counseling and methodological assistance on laboratory diagnosis and monitoring of Zika fever. In this regard, a literature review of commercial test systems for immunodiagnostics of this infection was performed. Currently, a number of test systems for solid-phase enzyme-linked immunoassay method (ELISA), immunochromatography and indirect immunofluorescent method (IIFT) have been developed for immunodiagnostics of Zika fever. Euroimmun Ltd. remains the only manufacturer that has access to detailed information on validation of the specificity of the produced diagnostic kits. Independent studies confirm that Euroimmun test systems have high specificity and high sensitivity, which is proved by the study of the material from various populations, including Europeans travelling to Zika virus endemic regions and people residing in these regions. A detailed overview of characteristics of Euroimmun test systems for immunodiagnostics of Zika fever allows us to conclude that there is a rationale for the use of these test systems for Russian Federation sanitary protection by identification of antibodies in patients, presumably infected with the Zika virus.