Dengue IgM (Rapid)

Bacterial/ Viral

Report in 8Hrs

At Home

No Fasting Required

Details

Detects Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies produced in response to a recent dengue virus infection

₹249₹300

17% OFF

Dengue IgM (Rapid) - Comprehensive Medical Test Information Guide

1. Why is it done?
- Test Purpose: Detects IgM antibodies against dengue virus in serum or plasma. IgM antibodies indicate acute or recent dengue infection (typically appearing 3-5 days after symptom onset).
- Primary Indications: Suspected dengue fever or dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF); Assessment of patients with fever, headache, myalgia, and arthralgia; Screening in dengue-endemic regions during epidemic periods
- Clinical Timing: Performed during acute febrile phase (within first 5-7 days of symptom onset for optimal sensitivity); Can remain positive for 3-6 months post-infection
- Test Advantages: Rapid results (15-20 minutes); Point-of-care testing capability; Useful for early diagnosis when other confirmatory tests may be negative
2. Normal Range
- Normal Result: NEGATIVE (Absence of anti-dengue IgM antibodies)
- Abnormal Result: POSITIVE or REACTIVE (Presence of anti-dengue IgM antibodies)
- Possible Results: Negative/Non-Reactive; Positive/Reactive; Equivocal/Borderline (requires confirmatory testing)
- Units of Measurement: Qualitative result (Positive/Negative); Some quantitative assays report antibody titers in IU/mL or Index values
- Interpretation of Normal vs Abnormal: Negative = No acute dengue infection detected; Positive = Suggestive of acute or recent dengue infection; Equivocal = Requires repeat testing or confirmatory methods (RT-PCR, NS1 antigen)
3. Interpretation
- Positive Result Interpretation: Indicates acute dengue infection; Patient has been infected with dengue virus in the past few days to weeks; IgM is the first antibody produced during primary infection; Appears 3-5 days after symptom onset; Persists for 3-6 months
- Negative Result Interpretation: No recent dengue infection detected; May indicate non-dengue etiology of symptoms; If clinically suspected, repeat testing in 2-3 days as IgM may not yet be detectable; May be negative in very early infection (within 3 days)
- Equivocal/Borderline Results: Requires confirmatory testing with RT-PCR or NS1 antigen detection; Repeat IgM testing after 2-3 days; Consider serotype identification if positive
- Factors Affecting Results: Timing of sample collection relative to symptom onset; Prior dengue infections (may show persistent IgM or cross-reactivity); Immunocompromised status (delayed or absent antibody response); Quality of specimen; Test kit sensitivity and specificity; Cross-reactivity with other flaviviruses (Zika, Yellow Fever)
- Sensitivity and Specificity: Sensitivity: 80-98% (varies by day of illness and test manufacturer); Specificity: 90-99%; Lower sensitivity in first 3-4 days of illness; Sensitivity increases with increasing day of illness (optimum at day 5-7)
- Clinical Significance: Positive result strongly suggests acute dengue infection; Should guide clinical management and infection control measures; Important for public health surveillance in endemic regions; Positive result supports clinical diagnosis but does not identify dengue serotype
4. Associated Organs
- Primary Organ Systems Involved: Immune/Lymphatic system (primary); Vascular endothelium; Liver; Spleen; Bone marrow
- Diseases Diagnosed or Associated: Dengue Fever (DF) - Classic dengue with fever, headache, myalgia; Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) - More severe form with bleeding manifestations; Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) - Severe form with hypotension and shock; Expanded Dengue Syndrome (EDS)
- Potential Complications Associated with Positive Results: Hemorrhage and bleeding diathesis; Thrombocytopenia (platelet count <100,000/µL); Hepatomegaly and liver dysfunction; Renal impairment; Neurological complications (encephalitis, meningitis); Myocarditis; Pulmonary edema; Secondary bacterial infections; Metabolic acidosis
- Secondary Effects on Organ Systems: Gastrointestinal tract: Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting; Central nervous system: Headache, altered mental status; Musculoskeletal: Joint pain, muscle pain; Dermatologic: Rash, skin hemorrhages; Hematologic: Bleeding manifestations
- Risk Factors for Severe Disease: Secondary dengue infection (different serotype); Infants and young children; Elderly patients; Pregnant women; Underlying chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, renal/cardiac disease); Immunocompromised status
5. Follow-up Tests
- Confirmatory Tests (if positive result): RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction) - Detects dengue viral RNA; Gold standard for diagnosis; Most sensitive in first 5 days of illness; Allows serotype identification. NS1 (Non-structural protein 1) antigen detection - Positive in early phase (days 1-6); High specificity for dengue
- IgG Antibody Testing: Performed after IgM testing to assess for past dengue infection; Appears after 7-10 days of illness; Persists for life; Helps identify secondary vs primary infection when combined with IgM results
- Hematological Tests (if DHF/DSS suspected): Complete Blood Count (CBC) - Assess platelet count, hemoglobin (hemoconcentration); Prothrombin Time (PT) and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) - Evaluate coagulation status; Fibrinogen level - Assess coagulation cascade
- Biochemical Tests: Liver function tests (AST, ALT, bilirubin, albumin); Renal function tests (creatinine, BUN, urinalysis); Electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride); Lactate level - Assess for metabolic acidosis
- Imaging Studies (if complications suspected): Chest X-ray - Evaluate for pulmonary edema, pleural effusion; Abdominal ultrasound - Assess for hepatomegaly, ascites; Echocardiography - If myocarditis suspected
- Repeat Testing Recommendations: If initial IgM is negative but clinical suspicion is high: Repeat after 2-3 days; Perform concurrent RT-PCR or NS1 testing; Follow-up CBC to monitor platelet trends (every 12-24 hours in DHF cases)
- Monitoring Frequency: Uncomplicated dengue: No ongoing monitoring after diagnosis; DHF cases: Daily CBC and liver function tests during acute phase; DSS cases: Intensive monitoring - vital signs every 1-2 hours, hourly intake/output, daily labs until stabilization; Convalescent phase: Follow-up CBC as platelet recovery occurs
- Related Serological Tests: Dengue IgG - Lifetime immunity marker; Zika IgM/IgG - Rule out Zika (cross-reactivity possible); Yellow Fever antibodies - If differential diagnosis needed; West Nile virus serology - In non-endemic areas
6. Fasting Required?
- Fasting Requirement: NO - Fasting is NOT required for Dengue IgM (Rapid) test
- Sample Collection: Patient can eat and drink normally before testing; Test can be performed any time of day; No specific dietary restrictions apply
- Specimen Requirements: Serum (preferred) - Collected by venipuncture into serum separator tube (SST) without additive; Plasma - Can be used in some rapid tests (EDTA or citrate tube); Whole blood - Some rapid tests allow direct finger stick or heel stick samples; Minimal volume typically required: 5-10 mL serum or 50-100 µL whole blood
- Specimen Handling and Storage: Separate serum from clot within 30 minutes; Store at 2-8°C if testing cannot be performed immediately; Do NOT freeze specimen unless specified by lab; Transport to lab promptly; Sample stability typically 2-7 days at 2-8°C
- Medications to Avoid: NO medications need to be avoided before this test; Test results are NOT affected by medications; Antimicrobial therapy does not interfere with antibody detection; Antipyretics and analgesics can be taken as needed
- Other Patient Preparation Requirements: Patient should notify healthcare provider of recent travel to dengue-endemic areas; Inform of fever onset date to help interpret results; Note any other symptoms experienced; Provide vaccination history if available; Patient identification and specimen labeling critical for accurate results; Informed consent required (standard for blood tests); No contraindications to blood draw
- Pre-analytical Variables to Consider: Hemolysis (can invalidate results - ensure proper phlebotomy technique); Lipemia (does not significantly affect test); Contamination prevention (use sterile collection technique); Timing of sample collection relative to symptom onset critical for optimal sensitivity

How our test process works!