The Naval Health Research Center has been cleared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to test clinical specimens for Zika virus. NHRC is one of six laboratories in California that are authorized at this time to use the Trioplex Real-time RT-PCR Assay (Trioplex rRT-PCR), a new test developed by the CDC, to detect Zika virus. Having the ability to test for the Zika virus provides support to local military and civilian hospitals that evaluate patients with travel histories to affected areas, such as Southeast Asia and South America. The test is not available in local hospitals and clinics, but samples from patients who meet the CDC Zika clinical and epidemiological criteria are referred to Laboratory Response Network (LRN) laboratories designated by the CDC for testing.
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