Tests for Dengue Fever

Keyhole Clinic offers tests for Dengue Fever, NS1 antigen test, IgM detection test.

Dengue Fever tests are conducted to test for the presence of Dengue virus. Dengue viral infection is spread through bites from infected mosquitoes. It is important to test for Dengue fever if you have symptoms related to Dengue fever, which include high fever, nausea and vomiting, rash, eye pain, headache, joint pain or muscle pain.

Types of Tests for Dengue Fever

Different types of tests for dengue fever include:

Antibody tests: The blood is tested for proteins called antibodies. These antibodies are made by the immune system to fight viruses and other germs. Positive test result means dengue virus antibodies were found in the blood and may need another test for confirmation of dengue virus as the antibody test may have found antibodies that fight other similar viruses spread by mosquitoes.

Molecular tests: A PCR test (polymerase chain reaction) is a type of molecular test to test for dengue. These tests are done during the first seven days after the onset of symptoms. Tests done after seven days may not be accurate.

NS1 Antigen Test: This test is used to detect the presence of non-structural protein 1 (NS1) of dengue virus and is recommended during the first 7 days of the onset of symptoms. Positive NS1 confirms infection from dengue virus, but a negative NS1 test does not rule out dengue infection. Therefore, in case of negative NS1 test, IgM Antibody test is conducted.

IgM Antibody Test: IgM Antibody test is performed to detect the presence of IgM antibody that is produced by the immune system if the person has been exposed to dengue virus. NS1 Antigen Test combined with IgM Antibody test provides a diagnostic result during the first 7 days of Dengue fever.

Your doctor, usually a General Physician, may order a Complete Blood Count (CBC) to check for low platelet count or decrease in hemoglobin, hematocrit, and RBC, which may suggest anemia. Low platelet count is typical in the later stages of the illness. Normal platelet count in the body is 1.5 to 4 lacs. With dengue fever platelets can drop to 20,000 to 40,000. Low hemoglobin would be suggestive of anemia.

Why should you test for Dengue Fever?

Dengue is one of the most serious tropical diseases, and Kerala has been experiencing a recent emergence of dengue fever. It is important to get the tests for dengue fever done if you have symptoms of dengue and other flu-like symptoms, which include high fever, nausea and vomiting, rash, eye pan, headache, joint pain or muscle pain, etc. It is also advisable to get the tests for dengue fever done if you have travelled to an area where dengue outbreak has occurred.