ESTER CERDEIRA SABINO
Projetos de Pesquisa
Unidades Organizacionais
Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina - Docente
LIM/46 - Laboratório de Parasitologia Médica, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina - Líder
LIM/46 - Laboratório de Parasitologia Médica, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina - Líder
20 resultados
Resultados de Busca
Agora exibindo 1 - 10 de 20
- Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi Cross-Reactive Antibodies Detected at High Rate in Non-Exposed Individuals Living in Non-Endemic Regions: Seroprevalence and Association to Other Viral Serologies(2013) SABA, Esber S.; GUEYFFIER, Lucie; DICHTEL-DANJOY, Marie-Laure; POZZETTO, Bruno; BOURLET, Thomas; GUEYFFIER, Francois; MEKKI, Yahia; POTTEL, Hans; SABINO, Ester C.; VANHEMS, Philippe; ZREIN, Maan A.Cross-reactive antibodies are characterized by their recognition of antigens that are different from the trigger immunogen. This happens when the similarity between two different antigenic determinants becomes adequate enough to enable a specific binding with such cross-reactive antibodies. In the present manuscript, we report the presence, at an ""abnormal"" high frequency, of antibodies in blood samples from French human subjects cross-reacting with a synthetic-peptide antigen derived from a Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) protein sequence. As the vector of T. cruzi is virtually confined to South America, the parasite is unlikely to be the trigger immunogen of the cross-reactive antibodies detected in France. At present, the cross-reactive antibodies are measured by using an in-house ELISA method that employs the T. cruzi -peptide antigen. However, to underline their cross-reactive characteristics, we called these antibodies ""Trypanosoma cruzi Cross Reactive Antibodies"" or TcCRA. To validate their cross-reactive nature, these antibodies were affinity-purified from plasma of healthy blood donor and were then shown to specifically react with the T. cruzi parasite by immunofluorescence. Seroprevalence of TcCRA was estimated at 45% in serum samples of French blood donors while the same peptide-antigen reacts with about 96% of T. cruzi -infected Brazilian individuals. In addition, we compared the serology of TcCRA to other serologies such as HSV 1/2, EBV, HHV-6, CMV, VZV, adenovirus, parvovirus B19, mumps virus, rubella virus, respiratory syncytial virus, measles and enterovirus. No association was identified to any of the tested viruses. Furthermore, we tested sera from different age groups for TcCRA and found a progressive acquisition starting from early childhood. Our findings show a large seroprevalence of cross-reactive antibodies to a well-defined T. cruzi antigen and suggest they are induced by a widely spread immunogen, acquired from childhood. The etiology of TcCRA and their clinical relevance still need to be investigated.
conferenceObject Whole exome sequencing of Chagas disease cardiomyopathy families reveals accumulation of rare variants in mitochondrial and inflammation-associated genes(2019) CUNHA-NETO, E.; MARQUET, S.; FRADE, A. Farage; FERREIRA, A. Mota; OUARHACHE, M.; IANNI, B.; FERREIRA, L. Rodrigues Pinto; RIGAUD, V. Oliveira-Carvalho; ALMEIDA, R. Ribeiro; CANDIDO, D.; TORRES, M.; GALLARDO, F.; FERNANDES, R.; MADY, C.; BUCK, P.; CARDOSO, C.; SANTOS-JUNIOR, O. R.; OLIVEIRA, L. C.; OLIVEIRA, C. D. L.; NUNES, M. do Carmo; ABEL, L.; KALIL, J.; RIBEIRO, A. L. P.; SABINO, E. C.; CHEVILLARD, C.- Establishment and cryptic transmission of Zika virus in Brazil and the Americas(2017) FARIA, N. R.; QUICK, J.; CLARO, I. M.; THEZE, J.; JESUS, J. G. de; GIOVANETTI, M.; KRAEMER, M. U. G.; HILL, S. C.; BLACK, A.; COSTA, A. C. da; FRANCO, L. C.; SILVA, S. P.; WU, C. -H.; RAGHWANI, J.; CAUCHEMEZ, S.; PLESSIS, L. du; VEROTTI, M. P.; OLIVEIRA, W. K. de; CARMO, E. H.; COELHO, G. E.; SANTELLI, A. C. F. S.; VINHAL, L. C.; HENRIQUES, C. M.; SIMPSON, J. T.; LOOSE, M.; ANDERSEN, K. G.; GRUBAUGH, N. D.; SOMASEKAR, S.; CHIU, C. Y.; MUNOZ-MEDINA, J. E.; GONZALEZ-BONILLA, C. R.; ARIAS, C. F.; LEWIS-XIMENEZ, L. L.; BAYLIS, S. A.; CHIEPPE, A. O.; AGUIAR, S. F.; FERNANDES, C. A.; LEMOS, P. S.; NASCIMENTO, B. L. S.; MONTEIRO, H. A. O.; SIQUEIRA, I. C.; QUEIROZ, M. G. de; SOUZA, T. R. de; BEZERRA, J. F.; LEMOS, M. R.; PEREIRA, G. F.; LOUDAL, D.; MOURA, L. C.; DHALIA, R.; FRANCA, R. F.; MAGALHAES, T.; MARQUES JR., E. T.; JAENISCH, T.; WALLAU, G. L.; LIMA, M. C. de; NASCIMENTO, V.; CERQUEIRA, E. M. de; LIMA, M. M. de; MASCARENHAS, D. L.; MOURA NETO, J. P.; LEVIN, A. S.; TOZETTO-MENDOZA, T. R.; FONSECA, S. N.; MENDES-CORREA, M. C.; MILAGRES, F. P.; SEGURADO, A.; HOLMES, E. C.; RAMBAUT, A.; BEDFORD, T.; NUNES, M. R. T.; SABINO, E. C.; ALCANTARA, L. C. J.; LOMAN, N. J.; PYBUS, O. G.Transmission of Zika virus (ZIKV) in the Americas was first confirmed in May 2015 in northeast Brazil(1). Brazil has had the highest number of reported ZIKV cases worldwide (more than 200,000 by 24 December 20162) and the most cases associated with microcephaly and other birth defects (2,366 confirmed by 31 December 20162). Since the initial detection of ZIKV in Brazil, more than 45 countries in the Americas have reported local ZIKV transmission, with 24 of these reporting severe ZIKV-associated disease(3). However, the origin and epidemic history of ZIKV in Brazil and the Americas remain poorly understood, despite the value of this information for interpreting observed trends in reported microcephaly. Here we address this issue by generating 54 complete or partial ZIKV genomes, mostly from Brazil, and reporting data generated by a mobile genomics laboratory that travelled across northeast Brazil in 2016. One sequence represents the earliest confirmed ZIKV infection in Brazil. Analyses of viral genomes with ecological and epidemiological data yield an estimate that ZIKV was present in northeast Brazil by February 2014 and is likely to have disseminated from there, nationally and internationally, before the first detection of ZIKV in the Americas. Estimated dates for the international spread of ZIKV from Brazil indicate the duration of pre-detection cryptic transmission in recipient regions. The role of northeast Brazil in the establishment of ZIKV in the Americas is further supported by geographic analysis of ZIKV transmission potential and by estimates of the basic reproduction number of the virus.
- Performance Evaluation of VIDAS(& REG;) Diagnostic Assays Detecting Anti-Chikungunya Virus IgM and IgG Antibodies: An International Study(2023) PEREIRA, Geovana M.; MANULI, Erika R.; COULON, Laurie; CORTES, Marina F.; RAMUNDO, Mariana S.; DROMENQ, Loic; LARUE-TRIOLET, Audrey; RAYMOND, Frederique; TOURNEUR, Carole; LAZARI, Carolina dos Santos; BRASIL, Patricia; FILIPPIS, Ana Maria Bispo de; PARANHOS-BACCALA, Glaucia; BANZ, Alice; SABINO, Ester C.Chikungunya (CHIK) is a debilitating mosquito-borne disease with an epidemiology and early clinical symptoms similar to those of other arboviruses-triggered diseases such as dengue or Zika. Accurate and rapid diagnosis of CHIK virus (CHIKV) infection is therefore challenging. This international study evaluated the performance of the automated VIDAS(& REG;) anti-CHIKV IgM and IgG assays compared to that of manual competitor IgM and IgG ELISA for the detection of anti-CHIKV IgM and IgG antibodies in 660 patients with suspected CHIKV infection. Positive and negative agreements of the VIDAS(& REG;) CHIKV assays with ELISA ranged from 97.5% to 100.0%. The sensitivity of the VIDAS(& REG;) CHIKV assays evaluated in patients with a proven CHIKV infection confirmed reported kinetics of anti-CHIKV IgM and IgG response, with a positive detection of 88.2-100.0% for IgM & GE; 5 days post symptom onset and of 100.0% for IgG & GE; 11 days post symptom onset. Our study also demonstrated the superiority of ELISA and VIDAS(& REG;) assays over rapid diagnostic IgM/IgG tests. The analytical performance of VIDAS(& REG;) anti-CHIKV IgM and IgG assays was excellent, with a high precision (coefficients of variation & LE; 7.4%) and high specificity (cross-reactivity rate & LE; 2.9%). This study demonstrates the suitability of the automated VIDAS(& REG;) anti-CHIKV IgM and IgG assays to diagnose CHIKV infections and supports its applicability for epidemiological surveillance and differential diagnosis in regions endemic for CHIKV.
- Multimodality imaging evaluation of Chagas disease: an expert consensus of Brazilian Cardiovascular Imaging Department (DIC) and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI)(2018) NUNES, Maria Carmo P.; BADANO, Luigi Paolo; MARIN-NETO, J. Antonio; EDVARDSEN, Thor; FERNANDEZ-GOLFIN, Covadonga; BUCCIARELLI-DUCCI, Chiara; POPESCU, Bogdan A.; UNDERWOOD, Richard; HABIB, Gilbert; ZAMORANO, Jose Luis; SARAIVA, Roberto Magalhaes; SABINO, Ester Cerdeira; BOTONI, Fernando A.; BARBOSA, Marcia Melo; BARROS, Marcio Vinicius L.; FALQUETO, Eduardo; SIMOES, Marcus Vinicius; SCHMIDT, Andre; ROCHITTE, Carlos Eduardo; ROCHA, Manoel Otavio Costa; RIBEIRO, Antonio Luiz Pinho; LANCELLOTTI, PatrizioAims To develop a document by Brazilian Cardiovascular Imaging Department (DIC) and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) to review and summarize the most recent evidences about the non-invasive assessment of patients with Chagas disease, with the intent to set up a framework for standardized cardiovascular imaging to assess cardiovascular morphologic and functional disturbances, as well as to guide the subsequent process of clinical decision-making. Methods and results Chagas disease remains one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in Latin America, and has become a health problem in non-endemic countries. Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most severe manifestation of Chagas disease, which causes substantial disability and early mortality in the socially most productive population leading to a significant economical burden. Prompt and correct diagnosis of Chagas disease requires specialized clinical expertise to recognize the unique features of this disease. The appropriate and efficient use of cardiac imaging is pivotal for diagnosing the cardiac involvement in Chagas disease, to stage the disease, assess patients' prognosis and address management. Echocardiography is the most common imaging modality used to assess, and follow-up patients with Chagas disease. The presence of echocardiographic abnormalities is of utmost importance, since it allows to stage patients according to disease progression. In early stages of cardiac involvement, echocardiography may demonstrate segmental left ventricuar wall motion abnormalities, mainly in the basal segments of inferior, inferolateral walls, and the apex, which cannot be attributed to obstructive coronary artery arteries. The prevalence of segmental wall motion abnormalities varies according to the stage of the disease, reaching about 50% in patients with left ventricular dilatation and dysfunction. Speckle tracking echocardiography allows a more precise and quantitative measurement of the regional myocardial function. Since segmental wall motion abnormalities are frequent in Chagas disease, speckle tracking echocardiography may have an important clinical application in these patients, particularly in the indeterminate forms when abnormalities are more subtle. Speckle tracking echocardiography can also quantify the heterogeneity of systolic contraction, which is associated with the risk of arrhythmic events. Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography is superior to conventional two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography for assessing more accurately the left ventricular apex and thus to detect apical aneurysms and thrombus in patients in whom ventricular foreshortening is suspected by 2D echocardiography. In addition, 3D echocardiography is more accurate than 2D Simpson s biplane rule for assessing left ventricular volumes and function in patients with significant wall motion abnormalities, including aneurysms with distorted ventricular geometry. Contrast echocardiography has the advantage to enhancement of left ventricular endocardial border, allowing for more accurate detection of ventricular aneurysms and thrombus in Chagas disease. Diastolic dysfunction is an important hallmark of Chagas disease even in its early phases. In general, left ventricular diastolic and systolic dysfunction coexist and isolated diastolic dysfunction is uncommon but may be present in patients with the indeterminate form. Right ventricular dysfunction may be detected early in the disease course, but in general, the clinical manifestations occur late at advanced stages of Chagas cardiomyopathy. Several echocardiographic parameters have been used to assess right ventricular function in Chagas disease, including qualitative evaluation, myocardial performance index, tissue Doppler imaging, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, and speckle tracking strain. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is useful to assess global and regional left ventricular function in patients with Chagas diseases. Myocardial fibrosis is a striking feature of Chagas cardiomyopathy and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) is used to detect and quantify the extension of myocardial fibrosis. Myocardial fibrosis might have a role in risk stratification of patients with Chagas disease. Limited data are available regarding right ventricular function assessed by CMR in Chagas disease. Radionuclide ventriculography is used for global biventricular function assessment in patients with suspected or definite cardiac involvement in Chagas disease with suboptimal acoustic window and contraindication to CMR. Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy may improve risk stratification to define cardiac involvement in Chagas disease, especially in the patients with devices who cannot be submitted to CMR and in the clinical setting of Chagas patients whose main complaint is atypical chest pain. Detection of reversible ischemic defects predicts further deterioration of left ventricular systolic function and helps to avoid unnecessary cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography. Conclusion Cardiac imaging is crucial to detect the cardiac involvement in patients with Chagas disease, stage the disease and stratify patient risk and address management. Unfortunately, most patients live in regions with limited access to imaging methods and point-of-care, simplified protocols, could improve the access of these remote populations to important information that could impact in the clinical management of the disease. Therefore, there are many fields for further research in cardiac imaging in Chagas disease. How to better provide an earlier diagnosis of cardiac involvement and improve patients risk stratification remains to be addressed using different images modalities.
- Development of a Novel Multiplex Immunoassay Multi-cruzi for the Serological Confirmation of Chagas Disease(2016) GRANJON, Elodie; DICHTEL-DANJOY, Marie-Laure; SABA, Esber; SABINO, Ester; OLIVEIRA, Lea Campos de; ZREIN, MaanBackground Chagas disease is due to the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, a protist disseminated by a Triatome vector. This disease is endemic to Latin America and considered by WHO as one of the 17 world's neglected diseases. In Europe and in North America, imported cases are also detected, due to migration of population outside of the endemic region. Diagnosis of T. cruzi infection is usually made indirectly by the detection of specific antibodies to T. cruzi antigens. Following initial diagnostic evaluation or screening test (qualifying or discarding blood donation), a confirmation test is performed for samples initially reactive. The test presented in this study aims at the confirmation/refutation of the infectious status of human blood samples and will permit taking appropriate clinical measures. Methodology/Principal Findings We designed a novel array of twelve antigens and printed these antigens onto 96-well plates. We tested 248 positive samples T. cruzi, 94 unscreened blood donors' samples from non-endemic area, 49 seronegative blood donors, 7 false-positive and 3 doubtful samples. The observed reactivities were analyzed to propose a decision-tree algorithm that correctly classifies all the samples, with the potential to discriminate false-positive results and sticky samples. We observed that antibodies levels (Sum of all antigens) was significantly higher for PCR positive than for PCR negative samples in all studied groups with Multi-cruzi. Conclusion/Significance The results described in this study indicate that the Multi-cruzi improves the serological confirmation of Chagas disease. Moreover the ""sum of all antigens"" detected by Multi-cruzi could reflect parasitemia level in patients-like PCR signals does-and could serve as an indicator of parasite clearance in longitudinal follow-ups. Validation of this assay is still required on an independent large collection of well characterized samples including typical false-reactive samples such as Leishmaniasis.
- Clinical markers of post-Chikungunya chronic inflammatory joint disease: A Brazilian cohort(2023) LAZARI, Carolina dos Santos; RAMUNDO, Mariana Severo; TEN-CATEN, Felipe; BRESSAN, Clarisse S.; FILIPPIS, Ana Maria Bispo de; MANULI, Erika Regina; MORAES, Isabella de; PEREIRA, Geovana Maria; CORTES, Marina Farrel; CANDIDO, Darlan da Silva; GERBER, Alexandra L.; GUIMARAES, Ana Paula; FARIA, Nuno Rodrigues; NAKAYA, Helder I.; VASCONCELOS, Ana Tereza R.; BRASIL, Patricia; PARANHOS-BACCALA, Glaucia; SABINO, Ester CerdeiraBackgroundChikungunya-fever (CHIKF) remains a public health major issue. It is clinically divided into three phases: acute, post-acute and chronic. Chronic cases correspond to 25-40% individuals and, though most of them are characterized by long-lasting arthralgia alone, many of them exhibit persistent or recurrent inflammatory signs that define post-Chikungunya chronic inflammatory joint disease (pCHIKV-CIJD). We aimed to identify early clinical markers of evolution to pCHIKV-CIJD during acute and post-acute phases. Methodology/Principal findingsWe studied a prospective cohort of CHIKF-confirmed volunteers with longitudinal clinical data collection from symptoms onset up to 90 days, including a 21-day visit (D21). Of 169 patients with CHIKF, 86 (50.9%) completed the follow-up, from whom 39 met clinical criteria for pCHIKV-CIJD (45.3%). The relative risk of chronification was higher in women compared to men (RR = 1.52; 95% CI = 1.15-1.99; FDR = 0.03). None of the symptoms or signs presented at D0 behaved as an early predictor of pCHIKV-CIJD, while being symptomatic at D21 was a risk factor for chronification (RR = 1.31; 95% CI = 1.09-1.55; FDR = 0.03). Significance was also observed for joint pain (RR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.12-1.61; FDR = 0.02), reported edema (RR = 3.61; 95% CI = 1.44-9.06; FDR = 0.03), reported hand and/or feet small joints edema (RR = 4.22; 95% CI = 1.51-11.78; FDR = 0.02), and peri-articular edema observed during physical examination (RR = 2.89; 95% CI = 1.58-5.28; FDR = 0.002). Furthermore, patients with no findings in physical examination at D21 were at lower risk of chronic evolution (RR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.24-0.70, FDR = 0.01). Twenty-nine pCHIKV-CIJD patients had abnormal articular ultrasonography (90.6% of the examined). The most common indings were synovitis (65.5%) and joint effusion (58.6%). ConclusionThis cohort has provided important insights into the prognostic evaluation of CHIKF. Symptomatic sub-acute disease is a relevant predictor of evolution to chronic arthritis with synovitis, drawing attention to joint pain, edema, multiple articular involvement including small hand and feet joints as risk factors for chronification beyond three months, especially in women. Future studies are needed to accomplish the identification of accurate and early biomarkers of poor clinical prognosis, which would allow better understanding of the disease's evolution and improve patients' management, modifying CHIKF burden on global public health. Author summaryChikungunya fever (CHIKF) is a vector-borne viral disease first described in 1952 in Africa, which recently reached the Americas, where it then originated epidemics of unprecedented magnitude. Its acute phase is characterized by fever associated with joint pain and edema, which resolve in about seven days for most patients. However, 25-40% of these patients develop chronic musculoskeletal and arthritic symptoms, which may be incapacitating and lead to permanent joint damage. We have conducted a prospective longintudinal cohort of CHIKF confirmed individuals, in Brazil, which aimed to identify clinical early markers of evolution to post-Chikungunya chronic inflammatory joint disease (pCHIKV-CIJD) after 90 days, using objective physical examination to define pCHIKV-CIJD. We have also performed joint ultrasonography to improve evaluation of chronic arthritis. We found that 45.3% of patients who completed the follow-up met criteria for pCHIKV-CIJD. Women were at higher risk of chronification, as well as individuals who remain symptomatic 21 days after the onset of symptoms. Abnormal ultrasonography results were seen in 90.6% of examined pCHIKV-CIJD patients, in whom synovitis and joint effusion were the most commom songraphic signs, affecting mostly ankles and knees. The adoption of objective criteria to define pCHIKV-CIJD is crucial to estimate accurately the proportion of patients who evolve to chronic rheumatism, and to indentify early risk factors to this outcome, which may add important information to tailor therapeutic strategies for this particular population. It may also help to understand the burden of CHIKF in developing countries, measuring either its impact in individual's quality of life, or its communitary repercussion after widespread outbreaks.
conferenceObject FROM DECIPHERING THE SPECIFIC IMMUNE RESPONSE TO A NOVEL BIOMARKER FOR MONITORING CHAGAS DISEASE(2017) ZREIN, Maan; SABINO, Ester C.- Rare Pathogenic Variants in Mitochondrial and Inflammation-Associated Genes May Lead to Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy in Chagas Disease(2021) OUARHACHE, Maryem; MARQUET, Sandrine; FRADE, Amanda Farage; FERREIRA, Ariela Mota; IANNI, Barbara; ALMEIDA, Rafael Ribeiro; NUNES, Joao Paulo Silva; FERREIRA, Ludmila Rodrigues Pinto; RIGAUD, Vagner Oliveira-Carvalho; CANDIDO, Darlan; MADY, Charles; ZANIRATTO, Ricardo Costa Fernandes; BUCK, Paula; TORRES, Magali; GALLARDO, Frederic; ANDRIEUX, Pauline; BYDLOWSKY, Sergio; LEVY, Debora; ABEL, Laurent; CARDOSO, Clareci Silva; SANTOS-JUNIOR, Omar Ribeiro; OLIVEIRA, Lea Campos; OLIVEIRA, Claudia Di Lorenzo; NUNES, Maria Do Carmo; COBAT, Aurelie; KALIL, Jorge; RIBEIRO, Antonio Luiz; SABINO, Ester Cerdeira; CUNHA-NETO, Edecio; CHEVILLARD, ChristopheCardiomyopathies are an important cause of heart failure and sudden cardiac death. Little is known about the role of rare genetic variants in inflammatory cardiomyopathy. Chronic Chagas disease cardiomyopathy (CCC) is an inflammatory cardiomyopathy prevalent in Latin America, developing in 30% of the 6 million patients chronically infected by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, while 60% remain free of heart disease (asymptomatic (ASY)). The cytokine interferon-gamma and mitochondrial dysfunction are known to play a major pathogenetic role. Chagas disease provides a unique model to probe for genetic variants involved in inflammatory cardiomyopathy. Methods We used whole exome sequencing to study nuclear families containing multiple cases of Chagas disease. We searched for rare pathogenic variants shared by all family members with CCC but absent in infected ASY siblings and in unrelated ASY. Results We identified heterozygous, pathogenic variants linked to CCC in all tested families on 22 distinct genes, from which 20 were mitochondrial or inflammation-related - most of the latter involved in proinflammatory cytokine production. Significantly, incubation with IFN-gamma on a human cardiomyocyte line treated with an inhibitor of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase brequinar (enzyme showing a loss-of-function variant in one family) markedly reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (Delta psi M), indicating mitochondrial dysfunction. Conclusion Mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation may be genetically determined in CCC, driven by rare genetic variants. We hypothesize that CCC-linked genetic variants increase mitochondrial susceptibility to IFN-gamma-induced damage in the myocardium, leading to the cardiomyopathy phenotype in Chagas disease. This mechanism may also be operative in other inflammatory cardiomyopathies.
- Relative analytical sensitivity of donor nucleic acid amplification technology screening and diagnostic real-time polymerase chain reaction assays for detection of Zika virus RNA(2017) STONE, Mars; LANTERI, Marion C.; BAKKOUR, Sonia; DENG, Xutao; GALEL, Susan A.; LINNEN, Jeffrey M.; MUNOZ-JORDAN, Jorge L.; LANCIOTTI, Robert S.; RIOS, Maria; GALLIAN, Pierre; MUSSO, Didier; LEVI, Jose E.; SABINO, Ester C.; COFFEY, Lark L.; BUSCH, Michael P.BACKGROUND Zika virus (ZIKV) has spread rapidly in the Pacific and throughout the Americas and is associated with severe congenital and adult neurologic outcomes. Nucleic acid amplification technology (NAT) assays were developed for diagnostic applications and for blood donor screening on high-throughput NAT systems. We distributed blinded panels to compare the analytical performance of blood screening relative to diagnostic NAT assays. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS A 25-member, coded panel (11 half-log dilutions of a 2013 French Polynesia ZIKV isolate and 2015 Brazilian donor plasma implicated in transfusion transmission, and 3 negative controls) was sent to 11 laboratories that performed 17 assays with 2 to 12 replicates per panel member. Results were analyzed for the percentage reactivity at each dilution and by probit analysis to estimate the 50% and 95% limits of detection (LOD50 and LOD95, respectively). RESULTS Donor-screening NAT assays that process approximately 500 mu L of plasma into amplification reactions were comparable in sensitivity (LOD50 and LOD95, 2.5 and 15-18 copies/mL) and were approximately 10-fold to 100-fold more sensitive than research laboratory-developed and diagnostic reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction tests that process from 10 to 30 mu L of plasma per amplification. Increasing sample input volume assayed with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays increased the LODs by 10-fold to 30-fold. CONCLUSIONS Blood donor-screening ZIKV NAT assays demonstrate similar excellent sensitivities to assays currently used for screening for transfusion-transmitted viruses and are substantially more sensitive than most other laboratory-developed and diagnostic ZIKV reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays. Enhancing sensitivities of laboratory-developed and diagnostic assays may be achievable by increasing sample input.