Siemens Healthineers announced on Monday that its CE-marked immunoassay -- the Novagnost Zika Virus IgM µ-capture Assay -- is now commercially available to laboratories outside of the US.

The Novagnost Zika Virus IgM µ-capture Assay enables enhanced patient outcomes through differential diagnostics according to the WHO test algorithm. The assay is capable of detecting the Zika virus during the acute phase of infection, approximately a few days following the onset of symptoms.

“As Zika continues to rise as a global public health concern, there is an increased focus on detecting the Zika virus during the acute phase of infection,” Franz Walt, president of Siemens Healthineers’ Laboratory Diagnostics, said.

“With the introduction of the Novagnost Zika Virus IgM µ-capture, Siemens Healthineers completes laboratories’ virus testing menu by delivering assays for both immunoassay and molecular detection,” he said.

Siemens Healthineers aims to enable healthcare providers around the world to meet their current challenges and outperform in their respective environments. — VNS