New Test to Diagnose Dengue Approved

Dengue fever can resemble malaria and other febrile illnesses, which require different treatment strategies. A new diagnostic test that allows diagnosis of dengue within the first 7 days after onset of symptoms — the CDC DENV-1-4 Real Time RT PCR Assay — recently received FDA approval for use in the U.S. The test detects virus (rather than antibody) in blood samples and can identify all four dengue serotypes. It can be performed with equipment and supplies already used to diagnose influenza in many public health laboratories. More information is available from the CDC dengue website.

Dengue, a mosquito-transmitted viral infection, is a reportable infection in the U.S. and is a leading cause of fever in travelers returning from Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. In recent years, transmission has occurred within the continental U.S. in Florida and Texas.