The Hindu : New Delhi News : Dengue detection kit launched

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 12, 2006
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Dengue detection kit launched

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

NEW DELHI: With the dengue outbreak showing no signs of relenting in the Capital, early detection and treatment seem to be the only way to ensure low mortality. Dengue is a viral disease for which no specific treatment or vaccines are currently available, making early diagnosis critical in fighting the disease.

At present routine tests used to screen the dengue viral infection are based on the detection of specific dengue virus antibodies.

However, these particular antibodies are produced only four to six days after the first clinical signs of dengue (including fever and body ache) appear.

Now aimed at reducing the "time-lag" and to help in the early preliminary detection of dengue, a private company Bio-Rad Laboratories has launched the country's first "Early Dengue Detection Kit''. The kit has been registered in India only this September and the company is currently talking to Government officials to facilitate the use of these kits during the ongoing dengue outbreak.

"The new test kit for dengue screening -- the first in the Indian market -- is based on specific detection of dengue virus antigen. While existing dengue tests identify the virus indirectly by detecting antibodies, which are produced only four to six days after the appearance of the first symptoms, the new test is able to detect the virus from the first day of symptoms. Thus the kit enables preliminary dengue diagnosis several days earlier than classic serological methods (detection of antibodies),'' says Bio-Rad (India) country manager Dhiren Wagle.

"The time saved is at least six days for identifying the primary infection. Through this kit we hope to help the health agencies bring in an effective control and management of the epidemic. It enables doctors to begin earlier treatment, thus avoiding serious complications and limiting the spread of the disease,'' Mr Wagle adds.

The latest kit, according to him, is fast, easy-to-use and allows early diagnosis of primary and secondary dengue infections.

"Early detection of dengue is critical as it means that we can provide the appropriate treatment as soon as possible. If the test can give results early, it might now be possible to bring down fatality rates significantly. Currently we are using standardised dengue detection kits, which do have the handicap of being able to detect dengue after five days of symptoms appearing,'' explained a city doctor.

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