Idaho Bureau of Laboratories (IBL) provides testing for emerging diseases when diagnostic testing is limited or nonexistent in the commercial sector. Zika virus testing was a recent example of this. Since commercial testing for Zika is now widely available in clinical reference laboratories, IBL is no longer accepting specimens for routine Zika testing. Specimens should be sent to the health care facility’s commercial laboratory.

Laboratory Testing Guidance
Serum and urine are the main diagnostic specimens for Zika virus infection. Additional information about laboratory testing and acceptable specimens can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/zika/laboratories/lab guidance.html. Scroll to bottom of the web page for testing algorithms.

Samples submitted for Zika testing should meet CDC’s clinical and epidemiological criteria. A web tool that helps healthcare providers apply the updated Zika virus testing recommendations for pregnant women is located on the right side of this page: https://www.cdc.gov/zika/hc-providers/index.html. Please note that Central District Health Department (CDHD) does not provide Zika testing services.

Prevention
CDHD recommends that pregnant women should not travel to an area with Zika. Women and their partners who are trying to become pregnant should avoid nonessential travel to areas with Zika or follow the waiting periods listed here: https://www.cdc.gov/zika/pregnancy/women-and-their-partners.html

For questions contact Central District Health Department Communicable Disease Control Program at (208) 327-8625.

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