HHS supports collecting of Zika patient blood samples for research

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) said on Wednesday that it will support the collection of blood samples from people in the continental U.S. and Puerto Rico with confirmed Zika virus infections.

ASPR said that it recognizes the urgent need to expand the ability of diagnostic technology to differentiate between those who have simply been exposed to the virus and those who are actually afflicted by the disease.

Using Zika related antibodies like Immunoglobulin M (IgM) has shown to be effective in diagnostic tests, but there is a general lack of collective information and blood samples needed to perfect the technology.

Clinical Research Management, Inc., based in Hinckley, Ohio, announced that it will begin to collect blood samples from patients with confirmed Zika virus infection in coordination with state and local health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of a six month, $692,000 project funded by ASPR’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).

“Accurate diagnostic tools are vital for health care providers and their patients to determine whether people have been infected with Zika, especially pregnant women and their partners,” Dr. Richard Hatchett, BARDA’s acting director, said. “Today’s agreement will help ensure manufacturers will have access to resources they need to improve and ensure the accuracy of their diagnostic tools and help us better protect our nation against Zika.”