Dengue and Chikungunya

Why get tested?
Diagnose of dengue and chikunguniya virus infection (CHIKV) and to monitor treatment outcome.

Description:
Dengue virus:
Dengue is fast emerging pandemic-prone viral disease in many parts of the world. Dengue flourishes in urban areas, suburbs and the countryside but also affects more affluent neighborhoods in tropical and subtropical countries.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness and, sometimes causing a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue. The incidence of dengue has increased 30-fold over the last 50 years. Up to 50-100 million infections are now estimated to occur annually in over 100 endemic countries, putting almost half of the world’s population at risk.

The dengue virus (DEN) comprises four distinct serotypes (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4) which belong to the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the main vector that transmits the viruses that cause dengue. The viruses are passed on to humans through the bites of an infective female Aedes mosquito, which mainly acquires the virus while feeding on the blood of an infected person.

Chikunguniya Virus:
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an insect-borne virus, of the genus Alphavirus, is spread by Aedes mosquitoes. Chikungunya infection causes fever and severe joint pain. Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. The disease shares some clinical signs with dengue, and can be misdiagnosed in areas where dengue is common.

Reasons for Referral:
When patient have symptoms like rash, pain in the lower back, joint pain, vomiting, nausea, headaches and fevers, he/she need to test dengue and chikungunya for proper diagnosis.

Sample Requirement:
Plasma (Draw 3ml of blood K3EDTA tube.)

Test Preparation
No test preparation is needed.

Test Done by
3500Dx Genetic Analyzer (CE, IVD, Applied Biosystems, USA)