Development of a Rapid Diagnostic Test Kit to Detect IgG/IgM Antibody against Zika Virus Using Monoclonal Antibodies to the Envelope and Non-structural Protein 1 of the Virus

Kim, Yeong Hoon; Lee, Jihoo; Kim, Young-Eun; Chong, Chom-Kyu; Pinchemel, Yanaihara; Reisdörfer, Francis; Coelho, Joyce Brito; Dias, Ronaldo Ferreira; Bae, Pan Kee; Gusmão, Zuinara Pereira Maia; Ahn, Hye-Jin; Nam, Ho-Woo

To detect ZIKV RNA early in the course of illness, real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) on serum and urine has been commonly used during the first 2 weeks after onset of the illness [34] . Although a number of real-time ZIKV RT-PCR assays have been described, a recent evaluation showed that some had low sensitivity and incompatibility with currently circulating epidemic ZIKV strains belonging to the Asian/American lineage [25] . Additionally, an estimated 20-80% of ZIKV-infected patients may be undiagnosed because of the low viral loads in these patient's clinical specimens [25] . Thus, serologic test for ZIKV to detect ZIKV-specific IgM and neutralizing antibodies have been developed. Since IgM and neutralizing antibodies against ZIKV are detectable up to 12 weeks after onset of illness, serology tests should be followed when ZIKV RNA is negative on serum and urine from suspicious ZIKV infected patients.