Performance of Dengue Diagnostic Tests in a Single-Specimen Diagnostic Algorithm.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Anti-dengue virus (DENV) immunoglobulin M (IgM) seroconversion has been the reference standard for dengue diagnosis. However, paired specimens are rarely obtained, and the interval for this testing negates its usefulness in guiding clinical case management. The presence of DENV viremia and appearance of IgM during the febrile phase of dengue provides the framework for dengue laboratory diagnosis by using a single serum specimen.

METHODS:

Archived paired serum specimens (n = 1234) from patients with laboratory-confirmed dengue from 2005 through 2011 were used to determine the diagnostic performance of real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), for detection of DENV serotypes 1-4, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), for detection of DENV nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) antigen and anti-DENV IgM.

RESULTS:

During 1-3 days after illness onset, real-time RT-PCR and NS1 antigen testing detected 82%-69% and 90%-84% of cases, respectively, as viremia levels declined, while anti-DENV IgM ELISA detected 5%-41% of cases as antibody appeared. Over the 10-day period of the febrile phase of dengue, the cumulative effect of using these 3 types of tests in a diagnostic algorithm confirmed ≥90% of dengue cases.

CONCLUSIONS:

The use of molecular or NS1 antigen tests to detect DENV and one to detect anti-DENV IgM in a single serum specimen collected during the first 10 days of illness accurately identified ≥90% of dengue primary and secondary cases.

• Authors: Elizabeth A Hunsperger, Jorge Muñoz-Jordán, Manuela Beltran, Candimar Colón, Jessica Carrión, Jesus Vazquez, Luz Nereida Acosta, Juan F Medina-Izquierdo, Kalanthe Horiuchi, Brad J Biggerstaff, Harold S Margolis
• Journal: The Journal of infectious diseases (J Infect Dis) Vol. 214 Issue 6 Pg. 836-44 (Sep 15 2016) ISSN: 1537-6613 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26984143 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2016. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral
• Immunoglobulin M
• RNA, Viral
• Viral Nonstructural Proteins

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Algorithms
• Antibodies, Viral (blood)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Dengue (diagnosis)
• Dengue Virus (isolation & purification)
• Diagnostic Tests, Routine (methods)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (methods)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin M (blood)
• Infant
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Molecular Diagnostic Techniques (methods)
• RNA, Viral (blood)
• Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (methods)
• Retrospective Studies
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (methods)
• Viral Nonstructural Proteins (genetics, immunology)
• Young Adult