Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) issued a Health Advisory dated 01/02/2018 regarding updates to Zika testing recommendations. Most testing should be directed to commercial laboratories.
Routine testing of asymptomatic pregnant women for Zika is no longer recommended. Instead, providers may consider Zika testing for pregnant women with possible exposure after assessing risk to their patients (considering location, timing and duration of travel, use of prevention measures, etc.), patient preferences, and clinical judgment. This change is due to continued low numbers of cases through 2017 and the need for clarity and simplicity in recommendations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided interim guidance outlining these same screening and testing recommendations in the summer of 2017. These recommendations are outlined below and in MMWR July 24, 2017 Vol. 66.
Testing is still routinely recommended for pregnant women reporting symptoms consistent with Zika virus disease following exposure. DOH continues to offer testing to patients for whom cost is a barrier, regardless of symptom status, in pregnant women; however, in all other cases Zika tests should be ordered commercially.
Zika virus testing is not recommended for infants without clinical findings consistent with congenital Zika virus syndrome born to mothers without lab evidence of possible Zika infection. All infants born to mothers with possible Zika exposure during pregnancy should continue to receive a standard evaluation at birth, including a comprehensive physical examination with measurement of growth parameters, vision screen, and standard newborn hearing screen. DOH continues to offer testing of serum and urine of infants who qualify according to the CDC algorithm and will consider additional testing on a case-by-case basis. The updated interim guidance can be found in MMWR October 20, 2017 Vol. 66.
DOH Zika web page for Healthcare Providers:
Zika Resources for Health Care Providers & Clinical Labs
CDC Zika web page for Healthcare Providers:
CDC Zika Virus for Health Care Providers & Clinical Labs
Areas with Risk of Zika:
World map of all countries and territories where Zika is a risk
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