Improving Molecular Diagnostics for Arboviral Threats

Widely used dengue and Zika RT-PCR assays were designed against strains circulating decades ago. Mutations in primer-binding regions can quietly cause assays to fail — especially for African and Asian DENV/ZIKV lineages that remain genetically under-characterised. The result is undercounted outbreaks and missed cases.

DeZi systematically benchmarks the molecular tests in active use across the network — RT-PCR, antigen-detection, and rapid IgM/IgG assays — using well-established RNA panels representing the actual genetic diversity circulating in DeZi partner countries. We also develop improved genomic sequencing primers that capture the diversity of currently circulating lineages. The goal is concrete: a tested, ranked recommendation for each region of the network, replacing assays that fail on local strains.

Related Toolkits (more to come soon)