Dallas County Health and Human Services will start testing for the Zika virus in Dallas on Monday.
"The ability to test for the Zika virus is a game changer for this area," said Zach Thompson, DCHHS director.
Thompson the DCHHS lab in Dallas will be able to turn around test results in 24 hours or less. If the specimens are sent to the CDC, it can take between two and three weeks to get results.
"It will also help in terms of those pregnant females needing results quickly," Thompson said.
Thompson estimates microbiologists will test between 10 and 15 specimens a day. They will target the detection of Zika, chikungunya and dengue.
“We hope to be able to either confirm or deny the presence of any of those three viruses,” said Daniel Serinaldi, DCHHS microbiologist.
Thompson stressed patients need to go to their doctors first for testing, not the DCHHS.
The DCHHS also said practices used to prevent West Nile virus from spreading, like wearing mosquito repellant and getting rid of standing water, should be in place for preventing Zika from getting to mosquitoes in Dallas.
