Zika and Boulder County
Zika is not present in Colorado. The climate (temperature, precipitation and humidity) in Colorado is not ideal for Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary carrier of Zika. Because of this, outbreaks are unlikely to occur here. It’s likely there will be cases in travelers returning from countries where there are outbreaks.
Zika Testing & Diagnosis
For the most up-to-date Zika testing criteria, please visit Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment.
Testing Requests
Boulder County Public Health and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) CANNOT collect specimens directly from patients.
Patients must request testing from their health care provider who can then submit patient specimens for testing to the CDPHE laboratory (address below). Providers must clearly indicate on the form the testing they are requesting (IgM and/or RT-PCR for Zika Virus).
Questions
Contact the Communicable Disease Branch at 303-692-2700 or the CDPHE lab at 303-692-3485.
Specimen Delivery
Specimens can be dropped off for CDPHE routine courier pick up at your hospital or laboratory or sent to the CDPHE Laboratory Services Division by FedEx or the courier of your choice. Boulder County Public Health does not provide courier services.
If your facility does not have a regular pick-up, the state laboratory offers a free courier system, operated by Kangaroo Express to all Colorado clinical facilities. For more information, please call 303-692-3086.
Specimens should be sent to:
CDPHE Laboratory Services Division
8100 Lowry Blvd
Denver, CO 80230
