Evaluation of an immunochromatographic test for early and rapid detection of dengue virus infection in the context of Bangladesh.

ABSTRACT

Early, accurate and rapid diagnosis of dengue virus infection is important for early case management and for reducing its associated complications, DHF/DSS. In this study, an early and rapid diagnosis of dengue virus infection was performed from single serum samples by two serological methods. Blood samples collected from a total of 201 clinically-suspected dengue fever patients were tested for IgM and IgG antibodies by a rapid immunochromatographic test (ICT), and also by IgM and IgG antibody Capture ELISA. Of these, 126 (62.7%) patients tested positive for dengue antibodies by ICT, of which 70 (55.6%) were primary and 56 (44.4%) were secondary cases. By ELISA, 137 (68.2%) tested positive for dengue antibodies, of which 80 (58.4%) were primary and 57 (41.6%) were secondary cases. Before 5 days of fever, 20.2% primary and 10.1% secondary dengue infections were detected by ICT, while 30.3% primary and 12.6% secondary dengue infections were detected by ELISA. At day 5 of fever, ICT detected 42.8% cases as primary and 34.7% as secondary dengue infections, but ELISA detected 51.0% primary and 32.6% secondary infections. After 5 days of fever, ICT detected primary dengue infection in 45.2% cases and secondary infection in 42.5% cases, while ELISA detected 42.5% primary dengue infection and 42.5% secondary infection. When compared with ELISA, ICT showed 86.7% sensitivity and 96.5% specificity for IgM detection, whereas for IgG it was 94.7% and 98.6% respectively.