Dengue Fever Test
Dengue fever is a viral infection spread to people through bites from infected mosquitoes .
Dengue fever is a viral infection spread to people through bites from infected mosquitoes . A dengue fever test checks a sample of your blood to see if you have the virus. The test is used if you have symptoms of dengue fever and have been in an area where mosquitoes carry the virus. There are two main types of this test: Molecular tests look for genetic material from the dengue virus in your blood sample. A PCR test (polymerase chain reaction) is a type of molecular test that’s used to check for dengue. These tests can be done during the first seven days after your symptoms begin. Tests done later than that may not have accurate results. Antibody tests check your blood sample for proteins, called antibodies, that your immune system makes to fight viruses and other germs. Your body needs time to make specific antibodies to fight dengue. So, these tests are most accurate when they are done four days or more after your symptoms begin. One of the PCR tests can check for dengue along with two other viruses that mosquitoes carry. These viruses, chikungunya and zika , are common in the same places as the dengue virus, and they cause similar symptoms. Your provider can order this test from your state or local public health department. Other names: dengue virus antibody, dengue virus by PCR
Why is this test ordered? You may need to be tested for the dengue virus if you have symptoms of dengue fever and have been in an area where the virus is common. Symptoms usually show up four to ten days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Symptoms of dengue fever include a sudden high fever (104°F or higher) with any of these other symptoms: Nausea and vomiting Rash Eye pain, typically behind the eyes Headache Joint, bone or muscle pain Some people may develop a more severe case of dengue fever, sometimes called Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever. This type may begin 24 to 48 hours after the fever has gone away. Get medical help right away if you or a family member has any of these warning signs of severe dengue: Abdominal (belly) pain or tenderness Vomiting (at least 3 times in 24 hours) Bleeding from the nose or gums Vomiting blood or blood in stool (poop) Feeling tired, restless, or irritable You may also need a dengue fever test if you’ve been to an area where the virus is common, and you are at higher risk of developing severe dengue fever.
Clinical Interpretation
If you had a molecular test (a PCR test): A positive test result means that the test found genetic material from the virus in your blood sample. You most likely have a dengue infection. A negative test result means that the dengue virus wasn’t found in your blood sample. You probably don’t have dengue. However, it’s possible that there wasn’t enough of the virus in your blood sample for the test to find. That might happen if the test was done more than seven days after your symptoms began. If your molecular test result is negative, your provider will usually order an antibody test to confirm that you don’t have dengue. If you had an antibody test , your test results may be reported either as positive or negative, or as a measurement of the dengue antibodies found in your blood sample. A positive test result means that antibodies for the dengue virus were found. You probably have a dengue infection, but you may need another test to confirm the results. That’s because the antibody test may have found antibodies that fight other similar viruses that mosquitoes carry, such as zika. Your provider may order another type of blood test to find out exactly which type of viral infection you have. A negative test result means that dengue antibodies weren’t found in your blood sample. Dengue may not be causing your symptoms. But a negative result could mean that you were tested before your body had time to make enough antibodies to show on the test. So, your provider may order another antibody test after a few days to check again. If you have dengue fever, your provider can tell you how to treat your symptoms. While there is no specific medicine that can cure or treat dengue fever, most people will recover after about a week. Always follow your provider’s instructions for how best to recover from an infection. In general, care for dengue fever includes: Getting plenty of rest. Drinking lots of fluids. Taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) to control fever and relieve pain. Do not take aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen sodium (Aleve), because they can increase the risk of bleeding. Watching carefully for symptoms of severe dengue. Dengue fever, which can appear and worsen quickly. Get medical help right away if you develop the symptoms of severe dengue. Dengue fever can also raise the risk of pre-term delivery in pregnant women and low birth weight in babies. If you are pregnant and have dengue fever, talk to your provider about how best to lower these risks. Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results .
Clinical Protocol & Patient Advice
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You don’t need any special preparations for a dengue fever test.
Usage Guidance
- Reference ranges vary by laboratory. Always discuss your specific results with a qualified healthcare professional.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. View the original.