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Basic Tropical Fever Panel
Bacterial/ Viral
6 parameters
Report in 48Hrs
At Home
No Fasting Required
Details
RT-PCR panel for dengue, malaria, chikungunya, etc.
₹6,499₹8,189
21% OFF
Parameters
- List of Tests
- Plasmodium spp.
- Dengue virus
- Salmonella spp.
- Chikungunya virus
- Leptospira spp.
- Zika virus
Basic Tropical Fever Panel
- Why is it done?
- The Basic Tropical Fever Panel is a comprehensive diagnostic tool designed to identify the causative agent of fever in patients who have been exposed to tropical or subtropical environments
- Plasmodium spp. (Malaria) - Detects parasitic infection transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes; indicated when patients present with recurring fever, chills, and night sweats typical of malaria
- Dengue virus - Identifies viral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes; recommended for patients with fever, severe headache, joint pain, and rash in endemic areas
- Salmonella spp. - Detects bacterial gastrointestinal infection; ordered when patients have fever accompanied by diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and systemic symptoms
- Chikungunya virus - Identifies viral infection causing severe joint and muscle pain; tested in patients with fever and debilitating polyarthralgia in endemic regions
- Leptospira spp. - Detects bacterial infection from contact with contaminated water or animal urine; indicated for occupational or recreational water exposure with fever
- Zika virus - Identifies viral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes; recommended for pregnant women or those planning pregnancy with fever and rash in endemic areas
- Typical clinical indications include: fever of unknown origin in tropical regions, recent travel to endemic areas within the last 2-3 weeks, occupational exposure to tropical environments, and differential diagnosis in patients with non-specific febrile illness
- The individual tests work together to provide rapid and comprehensive identification of the most common tropical fever pathogens, allowing clinicians to initiate appropriate treatment quickly and prevent disease progression
- Normal Range
- Plasmodium spp. (Malaria) - Normal Result: Negative/Not detected; indicates absence of malarial parasites in blood; measured by microscopy, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), or PCR with no parasitemia present
- Dengue virus - Normal Result: Negative/Not detected; indicates absence of dengue antibodies (IgM/IgG) or antigen (NS1); normal range is non-reactive serology and non-detectable antigenemia
- Salmonella spp. - Normal Result: Negative/Not isolated; indicates absence of Salmonella bacteria in stool or blood culture; measured by bacterial culture or molecular detection with no bacterial growth
- Chikungunya virus - Normal Result: Negative/Not detected; indicates absence of chikungunya antibodies (IgM/IgG) or RNA; normal range is non-reactive serology and undetectable viremia
- Leptospira spp. - Normal Result: Negative/Not detected; indicates absence of Leptospira antibodies (MAT titer <1:400) or organisms; normal range is non-reactive serology and negative culture
- Zika virus - Normal Result: Negative/Not detected; indicates absence of Zika antibodies (IgM/IgG) or RNA; normal range is non-reactive serology and undetectable viremia; may show past exposure without active infection
- All tests use qualitative reporting (Positive/Negative or Reactive/Non-reactive) rather than quantitative values; interpretation depends on timing of specimen collection relative to symptom onset
- Interpretation
- Plasmodium spp. - Positive result indicates active malaria infection with parasites circulating in the bloodstream; parasitemia levels (1-100,000+ parasites per microliter) determine severity; false negatives may occur during early infection or chronic carriage; results require prompt antimalarial treatment initiation
- Dengue virus - IgM positive indicates acute or recent infection (within 2 weeks); IgG positive suggests past infection or immunity; NS1 antigen positive within first 5 days indicates acute viremia; negative result early in illness (<3 days) may require repeat testing; dual positivity with Zika may complicate interpretation
- Salmonella spp. - Positive blood culture indicates bacteremia/systemic infection; positive stool culture indicates enteritis or carrier state; absence of growth after 48-72 hours confirms negative result; false negatives occur if patient received antibiotics before testing
- Chikungunya virus - IgM positive indicates acute infection (within 2 weeks); IgG positive indicates past infection; RNA detection confirms active viremia; negative results early in illness may require repeat testing; false positives may occur in recently vaccinated individuals or cross-reactivity with other alphaviruses
- Leptospira spp. - MAT titer ≥1:400 in acute phase or ≥4-fold rise in paired sera indicates infection; culture positivity within first 7-10 days of illness; PCR positive during acute phase; negative results during convalescent phase are common; false positives may occur due to past vaccination or infection
- Zika virus - IgM positive indicates acute or recent infection; IgG positive suggests past infection; RNA detection confirms active viremia; negative result during first 3-5 days may require repeat testing; cross-reactivity with dengue is common; critical for pregnant women due to congenital risk
- Timing of specimen collection is critical - optimal detection varies: malaria (any time), dengue (first 5 days for antigen, after day 3 for antibodies), Salmonella (early in illness), Chikungunya (first 5-7 days for RNA), Leptospira (first 7-10 days for culture), Zika (first 5 days for RNA)
- Factors affecting results: prior vaccination status, immunocompromised state, previous exposure to similar pathogens, antibiotic use before culture, and specimen handling/transport conditions may all influence test accuracy
- Associated Organs
- Plasmodium spp. (Malaria) - Primary: Blood/Vascular system (parasites multiply in red blood cells); Secondary: Liver (site of initial parasite replication), Brain (cerebral malaria), Kidneys (acute kidney injury), Lungs (pulmonary edema), Spleen (enlargement); Complications: hepatosplenomegaly, renal failure, cerebral complications, severe anemia
- Dengue virus - Primary: Lymphatic system (viral replication); Secondary: Blood vessels (increased permeability leading to hemorrhage), Liver (hepatitis), Brain (encephalitis), Heart (myocarditis); Complications: dengue hemorrhagic fever, dengue shock syndrome, multi-organ failure, thrombocytopenia
- Salmonella spp. - Primary: Gastrointestinal tract (intestinal epithelium invasion); Secondary: Blood/Bloodstream (bacteremia), Liver (hepatic abscess), Spleen (splenic involvement), Bone/Joints (osteomyelitis, arthritis); Complications: septicemia, localized abscess formation, systemic infections in immunocompromised patients
- Chikungunya virus - Primary: Joints and muscle tissue (synovial inflammation); Secondary: Lymph nodes, Blood vessels, Nervous system; Complications: chronic arthritis/arthralgia lasting months to years, myalgia, encephalitis, meningoencephalitis in severe cases
- Leptospira spp. - Primary: Kidneys (acute renal failure is major complication); Secondary: Liver (hepatitis, jaundice), Lungs (pulmonary hemorrhage), Brain (aseptic meningitis), Skeletal muscle (myositis); Complications: Weil's disease (severe form with jaundice and renal failure), hemorrhagic manifestations, respiratory failure
- Zika virus - Primary: Lymphatic system and blood; Secondary: Fetal development (especially CNS), Nervous system (Guillain-Barré syndrome), Eyes (uveitis, retinitis); Complications: congenital Zika syndrome (microcephaly, CNS abnormalities) in pregnant women, neurological manifestations, birth defects
- Follow-up Tests
- Plasmodium spp. - Follow-up: Repeat blood smear microscopy at 24-48 hours to confirm parasitemia and monitor parasite load; G6PD testing before antimalarial therapy; Complete blood count (CBC) to assess anemia and thrombocytopenia; Liver function tests (AST, ALT, bilirubin); Renal function tests (creatinine, BUN); Lactate levels if severe malaria suspected; PCR for species confirmation if needed
- Dengue virus - Follow-up: Platelet count monitoring (daily if thrombocytopenia present); Hematocrit trends to detect hemoconcentration; Liver enzymes (ALT, AST) to assess hepatic involvement; Coagulation profile (PT/INR) if bleeding suspected; Repeat dengue serology 7-10 days later for confirmation; Ultrasound abdomen if dengue hemorrhagic fever suspected
- Salmonella spp. - Follow-up: Repeat stool culture 2-3 days after completion of antibiotics to confirm eradication; Antimicrobial susceptibility testing for culture-positive specimens; Blood cultures if bacteremia suspected; Imaging studies (CT/ultrasound) if abscess or localized infection suspected; CBC and differential to assess leukocytosis; Liver and kidney function tests
- Chikungunya virus - Follow-up: Repeat serology 2-3 weeks later if initial results negative in high clinical suspicion cases; Joint imaging (ultrasound, MRI) if persistent arthritis suspected; Liver function tests; Platelet count monitoring; ESR/CRP to assess inflammatory response; Neuroimaging if encephalitis suspected; Long-term monitoring for chronic arthritis symptoms
- Leptospira spp. - Follow-up: Repeat serology 2-3 weeks later (paired sera showing ≥4-fold rise confirms diagnosis); Blood and CSF culture early in illness; Kidney function tests (creatinine, BUN) essential for monitoring; Liver function tests (especially in Weil's disease); Platelet count; Coagulation profile if bleeding complications present; Urinalysis to monitor for proteinuria and hematuria; Daily monitoring in severe cases
- Zika virus - Follow-up: Repeat serology 2-3 weeks later if initial negative in high clinical suspicion; CSF testing if meningitis or Guillain-Barré syndrome suspected; Viral load monitoring during pregnancy for fetal risk assessment; Fetal ultrasound for pregnant women at least monthly; Neuroimaging (MRI/CT) if neurological complications suspected; Ophthalmologic examination if ocular involvement suspected; Long-term neurodevelopmental monitoring in exposed infants
- General follow-up recommendations: Complete metabolic panel and coagulation studies for all positive cases; Blood cultures if systemic dissemination suspected; Imaging as clinically indicated; Monitoring frequency determined by disease severity and patient response to therapy; Consider repeat testing if clinical presentation inconsistent with initial results
- Fasting Required?
- Fasting Required: NO - The Basic Tropical Fever Panel does not require fasting as it primarily involves blood serum/plasma analysis and does not utilize any glucose or lipid-dependent testing methods
- Patient may eat and drink normally before testing; however, patients with acute fever and gastrointestinal symptoms (particularly Salmonella cases) should be assessed on individual basis
- Medications: No specific medications need to be withheld before testing; however, antimalarial, antibiotic, or antiviral medications already initiated should be documented as they may affect test interpretation
- Specimen requirements: Venous blood collection (5-10 mL) in appropriate tubes specified by laboratory (typically SST serum separator tube or EDTA tube depending on specific test methodology)
- For Salmonella testing with stool specimen: Stool sample collection instructions should be provided; collection within 24-48 hours of symptom onset preferred; for other blood-based tests, timing should be as soon as possible after symptom onset (ideally within first 7 days)
- Additional preparation: Patient should inform healthcare provider of recent antimicrobial therapy, vaccinations, or blood transfusions as these may affect test interpretation; detailed travel history and symptom onset timeline critical for appropriate interpretation
- Specimen handling: Samples should be transported to laboratory promptly; refrigeration recommended for samples that cannot be processed immediately; never freeze serum samples if immunological testing planned
- Special considerations: Pregnant women should have testing performed regardless of fasting status given potential for congenital complications; immunocompromised patients may have altered presentation and test results regardless of fasting status
How our test process works!
