In August, the CDC purchased approximately $2.5 million in laboratory supplies and equipment for use in laboratories across the country to expedite the Zika testing process. Forty-three states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and nine Department of Defense labs received materials to support Zika testing.
Few labs are certified to test for Zika, which means samples must be shipped to specialized labs. Results can take weeks, which can be particularly worrisome for women who are pregnant. The materials purchased by the CDC will allow labs to conduct a test which can detect Zika antibodies that appear in the blood four to five days after the beginning of the illness and remain detectable for 12 weeks.
On Sept. 14, a backlog of Zika tests in Florida — where mosquito-borne Zika transmission is ongoing — moved Gov. Rick Scott (R) to call on the CDC for more lab support after the agency announced it was sending seven lab technicians to improve Zika testing efforts in the state.
More articles on the Zika virus:
Scientists able to detect traces of Zika from eye swabs
Florida Zika update: Miami Beach transmission zone expands, Wynwood makes progress in mosquito control
New science proves Zika causes microcephaly