Quest Diagnostics launches Oropouche virus testing

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) announced the launch of a diagnostic laboratory test for the Oropouche virus, an emerging disease found in South and Central America and the Caribbean.

The test will be available with a prescription from healthcare providers for clinical purposes at the end of July. Quest's laboratory in San Juan Capistrano, California, developed the test using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, with serology testing to follow later this quarter.

Oropouche virus is spread to people by infected biting midges and some mosquito species. While the current threat to the public in North America remains low, cases reported in the United States have been limited to travelers returning from countries with local transmission. The virus can cause symptoms that overlap with other arboviral diseases such as Dengue, Zika and chikungunya, and in severe cases can lead to neuroinvasive disease like meningitis and encephalitis.

"By developing this test, we are prepared to act quickly to offer scalable testing to complement public health labs should this virus become a public health threat," said Dr. Yuri Fesko, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Quest Diagnostics.

In September 2024, Quest Diagnostics was awarded contracts by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support testing and sustained laboratory readiness for emerging infectious diseases, including the development of diagnostics for Oropouche virus detection. The company also launched the first commercially available diagnostic test for Avian Influenza A H5 based on the funding.

The PCR testing can identify the RNA of the virus during early stages of infection, while serology testing identifies antibodies produced by the immune system in response to the virus during later stages of infection.

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