CDC continues to build U.S. laboratory capacity to test for Zika virus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has distributed about $2.5 million in laboratory supplies and equipment to enhance the nation’s capacity to test for Zika virus, the agency announced today. Forty-three states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and nine Department of Defense laboratories have received material that allows them to conduct testing for recent Zika infection using a CDC-developed test. In addition, all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 16 DOD labs have received material that allows them to use a second CDC-developed Zika test to tell if an individual is currently infected with chikungunya, dengue or Zika.