Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 May;23(5):863-865. doi: 10.3201/eid2305.161631. Epub 2017 May 15.

Zika Virus Infection and Prolonged Viremia in Whole-Blood Specimens.

Mansuy JM, Mengelle C, Pasquier C, Chapuy-Regaud S, Delobel P, Martin-Blondel G, Izopet J.

Abstract

We tested whole-blood and plasma samples from immunocompetent patients who had had benign Zika virus infections and found that Zika virus RNA persisted in whole blood substantially longer than in plasma. This finding may have implications for diagnosis of acute symptomatic and asymptomatic infections and for testing of blood donations.