Zika Virus Antibody IgM

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1232143, Beaker: Zika IgM, Quest: 94264

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

Questions and answers concerning pregnancy, exposure, and display of symptoms are required. Requests received without this information will not sent for testing.

Testing Algorithm:

• Nonpregnant asymptomatic: Testing not recommended
• Nonpregnant symptomatic < 14 days post-symptom onset: Blood PCR and Urine PCR
• Nonpregnant symptomatic ≥ 14 days post-symptom onset: Serum IgM
• Pregnant asymptomatic without exposure: Testing not recommended
• Pregnant asymptomatic with ongoing exposure: Blood PCR and Urine PCR
• Pregnant symptomatic: Blood PCR, Urine PCR, and Serum IgM

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Gold-top SST tubes.

Also acceptable: One plain Red-top tube.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer 0.5 mL serum to a plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.25 mL)

Transport: 3.0 mL serum, refrigerated at (2-8°C or 36-46). (Minimum: 1.0 mL)

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 3.0 mL serum, refrigerated at (2-8°C or 36-46). (Minimum: 1.0 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Plasma.
• Grossly hemolyzed specimen.
• Grossly lipemic specimen.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer 0.5 mL serum to a plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F) immediately. (Minimum: 0.25 mL)

Transport: 3.0 mL serum, refrigerated at (2-8°C or 36-46). (Minimum: 1.0 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Unacceptable
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 30 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

No specimens will be stored in the Laboratory.

Laboratory

Sent to Quest Diagnostics, Wood Dale, IL.

Performed

Monday – Saturday.
Results available in 4-5 days.

Reference Range

Negative or presumptive recent Zika negative.

Test Methodology

Immunoassay (IA)

Clinical Utility

Zika Virus Antibody (IgM) – This test is intended for the presumptive qualitative detection of Zika virus IgM antibodies in serum from individuals who meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) clinical and epidemiological criteria for Zika virus testing. Zika viruses are primarily transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitos [1].

Most individuals with a Zika virus infection are asymptomatic. Individuals with symptomatic infections may experience fever, rash, and muscle/joint pain [2]. Per the 2019 CDC guidelines, a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) and an IgM antibody test should be performed on maternal serum and a NAAT on maternal urine for pregnant women who live in or have traveled (during the pregnancy) to geographic areas at risk for Zika and who have a fetus with prenatal ultrasound findings consistent with congenital Zika virus infection. For current testing guidelines, see Testing Guidance | Zika Virus | CDC.

Zika infection shares clinical and epidemiological features with other arbovirus infections such as Dengue and Chikungunya. For CDC guidelines on testing concurrently for Zika and Dengue, see Testing Guidance | Dengue | CDC.
Serologic results may be difficult to interpret due to cross-reactivity between Zika IgM and Dengue IgM antibodies. If Zika virus NAAT results are negative, a presumptive positive Zika IgM result requires additional confirmatory testing. Zika IgM antibodies can persist for months or years following infection. Therefore, the presence of Zika IgM antibodies may not indicate a recent infection.

Epidemiology

• Zika virus can be transmitted from the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito.
• A mother already infected with Zika virus near the time of delivery can pass on the virus to her newborn around the time of birth, but this is rare.
• It is possible that Zika virus could be passed from a mother to her baby during pregnancy.
• Spread of the virus through blood transfusion and sexual contact have been reported.

Incubation Period

The incubation period (the time from exposure to symptoms) for Zika virus disease is not known but is likely to be a few days to a week.

Transmission

• The virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (A. aegypti and A. albopictus). These mosquitoes typically lay eggs in and near standing water in things like buckets, bowls, animal dishes, flower pots and vases. They prefer to bite people and live indoors and outdoors near people.
• Mosquitoes that spread Zika are aggressive daytime biters. They can also bite at night.
• Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person already infected with the virus. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites.
• NOTE: These mosquitos are not found in Michigan at this time.

Reference

1. Subcommittee on Laboratory Practices, ASM, and Public Relations Committee, Pan American Society for Clinical Virology (PASCV). Zika virus: An Update on the Disease
   and Guidance for Laboratory Testing. September 2022. Accessed May 9, 2023. Zika Virus: An Update on the Disease and Guidance for Laboratory Testing | ASM.org.
2. Sharp TM, et al. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2019 Jun 14;68(1):1-10.

CPT Codes

86794

Contacts

Last Updated

12/17/2025