Testing for Zika

 

See Also

Testing Process for Zika

 

For Healthcare Providers

• Clinical Evaluation and Disease
• Testing Pregnant Women
• Testing for Zika

How Zika is Diagnosed

• To diagnose Zika, a doctor or other healthcare provider will ask about any recent travel and any signs and symptoms. A blood or urine test can confirm a Zika infection.
• The doctor or other healthcare provider may order blood or urine tests to look for Zika or other viruses like dengue or chikungunya.
• Make sure to receive your Zika test results even if you are feeling better.

Only Some People Need Zika Testing

Zika virus testing is recommended only for certain people. If you have questions or think you should be tested, talk to your healthcare provider.

If You Have Symptoms

Zika testing is recommended if you have symptoms of Zika and

• You live in or traveled to an area with risk of Zika or
• You had sex without a condom with a partner who lives in or traveled to an area with risk of Zika.

Pregnant Women

Zika testing is recommended for pregnant women who don’t have Zika symptoms in certain cases. You should be tested for Zika if you are pregnant and

• You have ongoing exposure to Zika because you live in or frequently travel to an area with risk of Zika or
• Your doctor sees Zika-associated abnormalities on an ultrasound or you deliver a baby with birth defects that may be related to Zika.

If You Have Tested Positive for Zika

• If you are pregnant, you can pass Zika to your fetus. For information for pregnant women, please see the Zika and Pregnancy website.
• You can pass Zika to your sex partner(s). Learn how you can prevent passing Zika to your partner.
• You can pass Zika to mosquitoes, which can bite you, get infected with Zika virus, and spread the virus to other people. Learn how you can prevent mosquito bites.

More information is available for specific groups.

• Pregnant women
• Women considering pregnancy
• Women not considering pregnancy
• Men
• Parents

Sexual Transmission and Testing

• A blood or urine test can confirm Zika infection from sexual transmission; however, testing blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or urine is not recommended to determine how likely a person is to pass Zika virus through sex.

If You Think You May Have or Had Zika

• Treat the symptoms
• Protect others from getting sick