ZIKA VIRUS TOTAL ANTIBODY DETECTION ASSAY DEVELOPMENT KIT

The Native Antigen Company Zika virus total antibody assay development kit is designed to aid in the development of assays for the detection of Zika-specific antibodies in human serum. It is minimally cross-reactive with antibodies to Dengue virus (a closely-related flavivirus), and so can be used to develop assays which can distinguish human anti-Zika antibodies from other flavivirus and infectious disease antibodies, especially in epidemiological studies. Use of a Zika antibody assay is intended for detection of IgG in convalescent sera, although IgM/IgA are also detected earlier on in the infection cycle.

PRODUCT DETAILS – ZIKA VIRUS TOTAL ANTIBODY DETECTION ASSAY DEVELOPMENT KIT

• Assay development kit for the detection of anti-Zika virus IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies.
• Minimally cross-reactive to Dengue virus serotypes 1-4.
• Contains 5 reagents – positive control, negative control, differential control, Zika NS1 protein,  Zika NS1 biotinylated protein.
• Plasticware and buffers not included.

BACKGROUND

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae and the genus Flavivirus, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, such as A. aegypti and A. albopictus. Its name comes from the Zika Forest of Uganda, where the virus was first isolated in 1947. Zika virus is related to Dengue, Yellow Fever, Japanese Encephalitis, and West Nile viruses, and many antibodies (e.g. those produced as a response to infection) cross-react between these viruses (WHO, 2018). This cross-reaction causes severe problems in identifying individuals seropostive for Zika as the much wider spread background of Dengue infections cause many false positives in most standard serological ELISAs. NAC’s Zika virus antibody capture ELISA uses an in-house manufactured Zika virus-specific antigen to virtually exclude cross reactions and is thus suitable for the accurate detection of serum antibodies to Zika virus, indicating exposure. The detection of Zika specific antibodies is relevant for epidemiological studies, particularly in populations with high prevalence of Dengue and Chikungunya virus.

REFERENCES

• Zika Virus Factsheet. World Health Organization (WHO), 2018.