Although humans are not the primary hosts for West Nile virus, they may become infected through a mosquito bite. Most infections are usually asymptomatic, however the virus can be transmitted through blood, tissue and organ donations.
Transmission of WNV can pose particular danger for immunocompromised patients, causing neuroinvasive complications such as meningitis, encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, or acute flaccid paralysis, which can lead to irreversible neurological damage, coma and death.1
To enable early and accurate detection of WNV, Roche offers the cobas® TaqScreen West Nile Virus Test and cobas® West Nile Virus test for the direct detection of WNV RNA for donor screening and provides broad detection of other related flaviviruses that may cause transfusion-transmitted diseases.
