Multiplex targeted mass spectrometry assay for one-shot flavivirus diagnosis

Significance With pandemic emergence and increasing magnitude of flavivirus outbreaks in recent years, there is an urgent need for robust and easily extendable technologies for flavivirus diagnosis and typing to facilitate better disease management, surveillance, and control. Here, we report a single-shot mass spectrometry assay for distinguishing Dengue virus serotypes, Zika, Yellow fever, and Kunjin viruses, including coinfections in a multiplex assay with high specificity and sensitivity. This assay is easily extendable to a wider panel of flaviviruses and addresses the shortcomings of current diagnostics, holding high promise as a future flavivirus diagnostic tool.