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Clotted blood or serum must be submitted on all patients investigated for Zika virus infection regardless of other specimen types collected (e.g., CSF, tissue, urine, amniotic fluid.)

Urine was found to be positive by PCR for a longer duration than serum, and recent data (see final reference below) suggests that it is also significantly more sensitive than serum for detection of Zika virus RNA during the early stages of acute infection (including during the first 5 days of illness). It is therefore recommended to collect urine in addition to clotted blood/serum for PCR testing on all patients being tested for Zika virus infection within 14 days of symptom onset.

Urine should be collected on all neonates investigated for Zika virus within 48 hours postpartum.

Testing of amniotic fluid, CSF or tissue must be pre-approved by PHO microbiologist. Please contact PHO Laboratory Customer Service Centre at 416-235-6556 or 1-877-604-4567 before submission.