Enigma of laboratory confirmation of dengue / Subhash C. Arya, Nirmala Agarwal

Without prejudice to the possible deficiency of case definition of dengue or its future modifications, a laboratory confirmation would always be essential. Serological anti-dengue virus IgM and IgG and platelet counts are integral components of basic measures to label a suspected, probable or confirmed case of dengue. The anomalies and pitfalls of serological kits have been recently evaluated meticulously. Research to establish the accuracy of eight commercial rapid immunochromatographic assays for the diagnosis of acute dengue virus infection was illuminating. These assays failed to differentiate between the primary and secondary episodes of dengue viral replication. With the ever-increasing incidence of dengue and simultaneous circulation of all the four serotypes, clinicians would have to manage large numbers of patients with dengue shock syndrome and dengue haemorrhagic fever. The inability of the existing rapid assay formats to guide in a precise differential diagnosis would justify search for an alternative rapid and simple diagnostic.

Nursing.