Dengue IgG & IgM (Dengue Serology) Test

Dengue fever testing is used to determine whether a person with symptoms and recent potential exposure to dengue has been infected. The infection is difficult to diagnose without laboratory tests because symptoms may initially resemble other diseases, such as malaria. Serology testing for dengue virus-specific antibodies, types IgG and IgM, can be useful in confirming primary or secondary diagnosis. IgM is produced approximately 5 days after infection in both primary and secondary infections, while IgG is produced about 2 to 4 weeks after onset of primary infection and almost immediately after onset of a secondary infection.

It is recommended that you should either wear a sleeveless or a short-sleeved shirt to make it easier for you and the technician who will be drawing the blood. Wearing a shirt with full- sleeves that can easily be rolled-up is also fine. No special preparation is needed before having a serology test. Many medicines may change the results of this test. Be sure to tell your doctor about all the nonprescription and prescription medicines you take.

Reference ranges: Dengue Fever Antibody (IgG) <0.80 Dengue Fever Antibody (IgM) <0.90 Positive IgM and IgG tests for dengue antibodies detected in an initial blood sample mean that it is likely that you became infected with dengue virus within recent weeks. If the IgG is positive but the IgM is low or negative, then it is likely that you had an infection sometime in the past. If the dengue IgG antibody titer increases four-fold or greater between an initial sample and one taken 2 to 4 weeks later, then it is likely that you have had a recent infection. Negative tests for IgM and/or IgG antibodies may mean that you do not have a dengue infection and symptoms are due to another cause, or that the level of antibody may be too low to measure.

A band is wrapped around the arm, 3-4 inches above the collection site (superficial vein that lies within the elbow pit) A 70% alcohol pad is used to clean the skin A needle is then kept in line with and injected into a vein that can be seen from the skin The blood is dragged out from the needle by a nozzle, saved in a vessel and sealed with your name The sample is then taken to a lab for examination