Frequently Asked Questions

At this time, we do not recommend routine Zika virus testing in asymptomatic pregnant women who have traveled to a country with the known transmission. Only pregnant women who experienced two or more symptoms during or within two weeks of travel will be tested; even if the symptoms have resolved, we will still test if the criteria is met.

• Pregnant women, or women who recently delivered, who experienced two ore more of the following symptoms during or within two weeks of travel to a country with Zika transmission:
  • Acute onset of fever
  • Rash
  • Arthralgia
  • Conjunctivitis
• Asymptomatic pregnant women with travel to a country with current Zika transmission who have a fetal ultrasound suggestive of microcephaly or intracranial calcifications
• Infants with microcephaly or intracranial calcifications detected prenatally or at birth, and whose mother traveled to or resided in an area with Zika transmission while pregnant
• Infants born to mothers who had a confirmed positive or inconclusive test result for Zika following travel to, or residence in, an area with Zika while pregnant
• Non‐pregnant individuals currently symptomatic with two or more of the following symptoms and travel within the past two weeks to country with Zika transmission, or non-pregnant individuals with Guillain‐Barre Syndrome and travel to a country with Zika transmission.

Pregnant women with travel to a country with current Zika transmission, but who do not present with symptoms, are not currently being recommended for testing. It is advised that healthcare providers and others monitor the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) website for updates in this guidance, as testing restrictions may change.

Considerations for follow-up: Asymptomatic pregnant women with a history of travel to an area of Zika transmission while pregnant, regardless of past symptoms, should consult with their healthcare providers. Providers may refer to the MMWR Interim Guidelines for Pregnant Women During a Zika Virus Outbreak on the CDC website.

Testing is not indicated for women without a recent travel history to an area with Zika transmission, or for pregnant women who traveled before becoming pregnant.