Two Texas hospitals develop rapid tests for Zika virus

Researchers at Texas Children’s Hospital and Houston Methodist Hospital developed the test that identifies the genetic material of the Zika virus.

The tests, which can be carried out on blood, amniotic fluid, urine or spinal fluid, will provide results in just a few hours.

Work on the test started last month and it is currently available only at the two hospitals. The researchers are looking at allowing testing from other hospitals and clinics in the future.

Texas Children’s pathologist-in-chief and leader of the hospital’s Zika test development team James Versalovic said: "With travel-associated cases of the Zika virus becoming more prevalent in the United States, coupled with the looming increase in mosquito exposure during spring and summer months, we must be prepared for a surge of Zika testing demand."

In another development, US health officials are investigating 14 reports of the Zika virus that could be transmitted via sex, including to various pregnant women.

Earlier this month, the preclinical testing of Inovio Pharmaceuticals’ synthetic DNA vaccine for the Zika virus induced durable immune responses.

Indian company Bharat Biotech unveiled two vaccine candidates to protect humans against the Zika virus, which is spread by mosquitoes of the Aedes genus.

Sanofi has also launched a project to develop a vaccine against the virus, , which is generally mild and self-limiting, lasting two to seven days.

Image: Aedes aegypti – a mosquito vector of Zika virus. Photo: courtesy of Rafaelgilo.