title: Rapid Molecular Detection of Zika Virus in Acute-Phase Urine Samples Using the Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Assay.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Currently the detection of Zika virus (ZIKV) in patient samples is done by real-time RT-PCR. Samples collected from rural area are sent to highly equipped laboratories for screening. A rapid point-of-care test is needed to detect the virus, especially at low resource settings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this report, we describe the development of a reverse transcription isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) assay for the identification of ZIKV. RT-RPA assay was portable, sensitive (21 RNA molecules), and rapid (3-15 minutes). No cross-reactivity was detected to other flaviviruses, alphaviruses and arboviruses. Compared to real-time RT-PCR, the diagnostic sensitivity was 92%, while the specificity was 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The developed assay is a promising platform for rapid point of need detection of ZIKV in low resource settings and elsewhere (e.g. during mass gathering).
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August-University, Goettingen, Lower Saxony, Germany.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abd El Wahed
authors.affiliation: Hospital das Clínicas, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sabri Saeed
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sanabani
authors.affiliation: Arbovirus and viral hemorragic fever unit, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: Oumar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Faye
authors.affiliation: Hospital das Clínicas, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pessôa
authors.affiliation: Municipal Hospital of Tuparetama, Tuparetama, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Veras
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Patriota
authors.affiliation: University of Santo Amaro, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Rodrigues
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Giorgi
authors.affiliation: TIB MOLBIOL Syntheselabor GmbH, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Pranav
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Georg-August-University Goettingen.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Böhlken-Fascher
authors.affiliation: TIB MOLBIOL Syntheselabor GmbH, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Olfert
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Landt
authors.affiliation: Robert Koch Institut Robert Koch Institut.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niedrig
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Evolution and Bioinformatics, Department of Microbiology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paolo Marinho de Andrade
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Zanotto
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August-University, Goettingen, Lower Saxony, Germany.
authors.forename: Claus Peter
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Czerny
authors.affiliation: Arbovirus and viral hemorragic fever unit, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: Amadou A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sall
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weidmann
keywords: diagnostics; point of need; zika virus