Additional Information
Level of instruction: Intermediate
Intended Audience: Clinical laboratory professionals including medical laboratory scientists, medical technologists, and technicians. This course is also appropriate for clinical laboratory science and MLT students, pathologists, and clinicians.
Author information: David J. Moffa, PhD, BCLD, has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry as an executive manager, clinical laboratory director, and medical laboratory scientist. He is currently a technical consultant for Kentmere Healthcare, Wilmington, DE, and until his retirement, was the Regional Director for LabCorp, Inc. He holds a PhD in medical biochemistry from the School of Medicine, West Virginia University.
Reviewer information: Rodney E. Rohde, PhD, MS, SV, SM(ASCP)CMMBCM is the Professor and Chair of the Clinical Laboratory Science Program in the College of Health Professions at Texas State University in San Marcos, TX. Dr. Rohde brings his career experiences as a public and clinical microbiologist and infectious disease expert from CDC and the Texas Department of State Health Services Bureau of Laboratories and Zoonosis Control to the classroom. He is also the Associate Dean for Research and has been recognized with multiple research and teaching awards of excellence, including being named one of the Top 20 Professors of Clinical Laboratory Science You Should Know and the 2015 urEssential award from Cardinal Health.
Course Description: This course is intended to provide a detailed description of the virology and pathogenesis of the Zika virus, including the modes of transmission, symptoms, and infection risks. The primary laboratory tests used for Zika virus identification are included. The CDC's Zika virus testing algorithms for symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals are reviewed, emphasizing the evaluation of women and newborns with peripartum Zika virus exposure. Finally, the prevention and treatment of Zika virus infections and the status of vaccine development is examined.