Roche has launched the first fully automated Zika IgG immunoassay to help detect Zika virus infection. The diagnostic test is called the Elecsys Zika IgG immunoassay and will be available in CE Mark countries.

As diagnostic testing enables healthcare professionals to assess the immune status of patients, Roche’s immunoassay will be of particular importance to expectant mothers, their partners and travellers in order to detect evidence of a recent Zika virus infection.

This new assay is part of a significant advancement from Roche for Zika virus screening. In 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted IVD status to the cobas Zika test, for use with the cobas 6800/8800 systems, for the screening of blood and plasma donations in the US.

The rapid development of assays, including cobas Zika NAT and Zika IgG antibodies, was part of the company-wide response to the World Health Organisation’s declaration of a public health emergency during the Zika epidemic in 2016.