HHS enters into agreement with DiaSorin Group for the development of rapid Zika virus test

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) entered into a $2.6 million agreement on Monday with the DiaSorin Group to further the development of a Zika virus test that may help diagnose the virus more quickly.

“Accurate, rapid Zika diagnostic tests to determine whether someone recently has been infected are critical to ensuring the best health outcomes during the current outbreak,” Dr. Richard Hatchett, acting director of ASPR’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), said. “Identifying Zika cases more quickly helps people take steps to avoid additional transmission that much sooner, which helps protect pregnant women and others at risk of Zika infection.”

Contemporary testing from the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) can take up to four weeks for a diagnosis. DiaSorin’s automated laboratory test, however, utilizes the company’s LIAISON XL system, which tests up to 120 samples at a time and can generate results in one hour.

The contract supports the development of the test, potential design improvements, manufacturing preparations and clinical trials that could support the test’s FDA application for clearance.

Only one in five infected people show any symptoms of having the Zika virus. Symptoms of the virus are usually mild, with fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis the most common symptoms. There is no vaccine currently available for Zika virus.