Multicentre evaluation of dengue IgM dot enzyme immunoassay.
BACKGROUND
The traditional methods used in the diagnosis of dengue infection do not lend themselves to field application. As such, clinical specimens have to be sent to a central laboratory for processing which invariably leads to delay. This affects patient management and disease control. The development of the dengue IgM dot enzyme immunoassay has opened up the possibility of carrying out the test in peripheral health settings.


OBJECTIVE
This multicentre study was conducted to evaluate a new, commercial nitrocellulose membrane based IgM capture enzyme immunoassay.


METHODS
The sensitivity and specificity of the test were compared with in-house dengue IgM enzyme-linked immunoassays routinely performed by each of the selected centres. Known positive and negative dengue specimens, as well as specimens from non-dengue cases, were included in the evaluation.


RESULTS
Based on 402 specimens tested by the six centres, the sensitivity was 92.1% and specificity 88.1%, with an overall agreement of 92.8% when compared with IgM EIA assays performed on microplates.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that this commercial kit has a role to play in the diagnosis of dengue infection, especially in peripheral health settings.
Lam
S K
SK
WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus Reference and Research (Dengue/Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever), Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Fong
M Y
MY
Chungue
E
E
Doraisingham
S
S
Igarashi
A
A
Khin
M A
MA
Kyaw
Z T
ZT
Nisalak
A
A
Roche
C
C
Vaughn
D W
DW
Vorndam
V
V
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002460:Cell Line; D003715:Dengue / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic