Fig. 3

Assay schematics for ZIKV diagnostics by reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), IgM antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MAC-ELISA), and a plaque-reduction neutralization test (PRNT). a In one-step RT-qPCR, a patient sample is thermally cycled in a buffered reagent solution containing ZIKV primers, and the amplified target is identified by fluorescence, typically after 40 cycles. b In MAC-ELISA, human IgM developed in response to ZIKV infection are captured and quantified though antibody interactions and enzymatic conversion of a chromogenic substrate. c In PRNT, patient serum dilutions are mixed with live virus samples and are applied to confluent host cells. Antibodies in infected patients neutralize the virus, leading to a reduction in observable plaques