FDA Okays Procleix Zika Virus Assay From Hologic, Grifols To Screen Blood Supply

(RTTNews) - Hologic, Inc. (HOLX) and Grifols (GRFS) said that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or FDA has approved use of the Procleix Zika virus blood screening assay on the Procleix Panther system under the agency's Investigational New Drug (IND) study protocol.

Prominent U.S. blood centers will use the Procleix Zika virus assay to screen donated blood collected in potential endemic areas of the southern U.S., and may expand testing to other areas of the U.S. if the virus continues to spread.

"The American Red Cross is pleased to participate in the Procleix Zika Virus assay investigational study, which will allow us to begin blood donor testing for Zika virus early this summer in areas most likely to have local mosquito transmission of the virus," said Susan Stramer, Vice President of Scientific Affairs at the American Red Cross.