Partnerships Involved in Public Health Testing for Zika Virus in Florida, 2016.

The emergence of Zika virus in the Americas in 2015 and its association with birth defects and other adverse health outcomes triggered an unprecedented public health response and a demand for testing. In 2016, when Florida exceeded state public health laboratory capacity for diagnostic testing, the state formed partnerships with federal and commercial laboratories. Eighty-two percent of the testing (n = 33 802 of 41 008 specimens) by the laboratory partners, including Florida's Bureau of Public Health Laboratories (BPHL; n = 13 074), a commercial laboratory (n = 19 214), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; n = 1514), occurred from July through November 2016, encompassing the peak period of local transmission. These partnerships allowed BPHL to maintain acceptable test turnaround times of 1 to 4 days for nucleic acid testing and 3 to 7 days for serologic testing. Lessons learned from this response to inform future outbreaks included the need for early planning to establish outside partnerships, adding specimen triage strategies to surge plans, and integrating state and CDC information systems.

Comparison of Test Results for Zika Virus RNA in Urine, Serum, and Saliva Specimens from Persons with Travel-Associated Zika Virus Disease - Florida, 2016.

In May 2015, Zika virus was reported to be circulating in Brazil. This was the first identified introduction of the virus in the Region of the Americas. Since that time, Zika virus has rapidly spread throughout the region. As of April 20, 2016, the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Public Health Laboratories (BPHL) has tested specimens from 913 persons who met state criteria for Zika virus testing. Among these 913 persons, 91 met confirmed or probable Zika virus disease case criteria and all cases were travel-associated (1). On the basis of previous small case studies reporting real time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detection of Zika virus RNA in urine, saliva, and semen (2-6), the Florida Department of Health collected multiple specimen types from persons with suspected Zika virus disease. Test results were evaluated by specimen type and number of days after symptom onset to determine the most sensitive and efficient testing algorithm for acute Zika virus disease. Urine specimens were collected from 70 patients with suspected Zika virus disease from zero to 20 days after symptom onset. Of these, 65 (93%) tested positive for Zika virus RNA by RT-PCR. Results for 95% (52/55) of urine specimens collected from persons within 5 days of symptom onset tested positive by RT-PCR; only 56% (31/55) of serum specimens collected on the same date tested positive by RT-PCR. Results for 82% (9/11) of urine specimens collected >5 days after symptom onset tested positive by RT-PCR; none of the RT-PCR tests for serum specimens were positive. No cases had results that were exclusively positive by RT-PCR testing of saliva. BPHL testing results suggest urine might be the preferred specimen type to identify acute Zika virus disease.

Validation of a microsphere-based immunoassay for detection of anti-West Nile virus and anti-St. Louis encephalitis virus immunoglobulin m antibodies.

A microsphere-based immunoassay (MIA) was previously developed that is capable of determining the presence of anti-West Nile (WN) virus or anti-St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies in human serum or cerebrospinal fluid. The original data set on which the classification rules were based comprised 491 serum specimens obtained from the serum bank at the Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (DVBID). The classification rules were used to provide a result and to determine whether confirmatory testing was necessary for a given sample. A validation study was coordinated between the DVBID and five state health laboratories to determine (i) the reproducibility of the test between different laboratories, (ii) the correlation between the IgM-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MAC-ELISA) and the MIA, and (iii) whether the initial nonspecific parameters could be refined to reduce the volume of confirmatory testing. Laboratorians were trained in the method, and reagents and data analysis software developed at the DVBID were shipped to each validating laboratory. Validating laboratories performed tests on approximately 200 samples obtained from their individual states, the collections of which comprised approximately equal numbers of WN virus-positive and -negative samples, as determined by MAC-ELISA. In addition, 377 samples submitted to the DVBID for arbovirus testing were analyzed using the MIA and MAC-ELISA at the DVBID only. For the specimens tested at both the state and the DVBID laboratories, a correlation of results indicated that the technology is readily transferable between laboratories. The detection of IgM antibodies to WN virus was more consistent than detection of IgM antibodies to SLE virus. Some changes were made to the analysis software that resulted in an improved accuracy of diagnosis.

Rapid detection of influenza A and B viruses in clinical specimens by Light Cycler real time RT-PCR.

BACKGROUND: the influenza viruses cause morbidity and mortality annually among children and elderly. Surveillance and rapid diagnosis is imperative in the reference laboratory, as clinical symptoms are insufficient for proper diagnosis. OBJECTIVES: this study involved the design of a rapid detection method for influenza A and B viruses using real time RT-PCR from clinical specimens. Methods were specifically designed for use on the Light Cycler. The sensitivity and specificity were also to be determined. STUDY DESIGN: the identification and discrimination of influenza A and B viruses employs two dual probe systems based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology. Following submission by physicians participating in the Florida sentinel influenza network, 58 specimens were chosen for testing using both tissue culture and Light Cycler methods. RESULTS: of the 35 identified positive for influenza virus via tissue culture isolation, the Light Cycler results matched identification and typing with 100% agreement. However, the Light Cycler recognized 16 additional specimens that were positive for the presence of the virus. RT-PCR and nucleotide sequencing confirmed the presence of influenza A virus in these specimens. Using tenfold serial dilutions, the sensitivity of the Light Cycler method was determined to be 0.01 TCID50. The lower limit of RNA detection was determined as 1.6 x 10(-7) microg for influenza A virus, and 1.2 x 10(-7) microg for influenza B virus. Specificity of the Light Cycler method was determined by testing specimens containing adenovirus, parainfluenza virus and echovirus, all of which yielded negative results with no discernible background. CONCLUSIONS: overall, this newly developed method of simultaneous detection and typing of influenza types A and B using the Light Cycler proves to be more sensitive than tissue culture isolation, with corresponding specificity. This technique may be valuable for surveillance and rapid identification of influenza for early diagnosis.