Zika Virus Test
Reviewed
A Zika virus test looks for signs of Zika infection in your blood or urine. Zika is usually spread by mosquitoes in tropical areas, but can also spread through sex or from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Testing is especially important for pregnant women because Zika can cause serious birth defects.
Preparation and collection
You don't need any special preparations for a Zika virus test.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- A negative result can mean you are not infected or that you were tested too soon for the virus to show up.
- Antibody tests need to be done starting within a week after symptoms begin to be accurate.
- Zika virus outbreaks come and go, and testing recommendations may change.
- False-positive results can occur due to cross-reactivity with other flaviviruses like dengue or West Nile.
- Amniocentesis carries a small risk of miscarriage.
What to do next
If you are diagnosed with Zika and are pregnant, you can start to prepare for your baby's possible health problems before they are born. Early intervention may make a difference in your child's health and quality of life. If you are diagnosed with Zika and are not pregnant but would like to become pregnant in the future, talk to your provider about how long you should wait before trying to have a baby and if you need to be retested.