AI Article Synopsis

  • An external quality assessment was conducted on Zika virus molecular diagnostic tests in Brazil using a new standard.
  • Of the 15 laboratories assessed, 73% exhibited limited sensitivity and specificity in their testing.
  • Variability in viral load estimates was significant, highlighting the importance of ongoing quality assurance to improve risk estimation and patient care related to Zika virus.

Article Abstract

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 needed to adequately estimate risk for Zika virus-associated disease and determine patient care.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5938781PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid2405.171747DOI Listing

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