Dengue NS-1 Antigen Detection Test

A dengue test is done to:

• Detect the presence of non-structural protein NS1 of the mosquito-borne dengue virus.
• Allow rapid detection on the first day of the fever
• Confirm the presence of mosquito-borne dengue viral infection
• Diagnose the exposure of the patient to acute infection and dengue virus       
• Measure the genetic material of the mosquito-borne dengue virus in the stream of blood

Dengue NS1 test detects presence of dengue virus in the blood. The test measures the presence of Non-structural Protein1 (NS1) antigen in the bloodstream. It gets produced by the replication of the mosquito-borne dengue virus.

The blood sample is taken from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a  little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.

Test result positive implies patient is suffering from dengue infection. However, a false positive result may occur due to other flaviviruses like West Nile virus and Yellow fever. Confirmation with dengue RTPCR is recommended.

Test result negative implies that patient is not suffering from dengue infection. Results may be negative if test is done post 9 days of onset of symptoms.

Dengue NS-1 Antigen Detection By EIA - Serum test typically doesn't require any special preparation. However, it's always a good idea to follow any specific instructions provided by your healthcare provider or the lab.

The patient must take the dengue test during the initial days of the infection, that is, zero to seven days.

You can obtain the test result within a day.

• Febrile (Fever) - In the first three days of the infection, the patient has a fever of 39 to 40 degrees C, along with weakness, eye pain, joint pain, body aches, and weakness.
• Critical - Lasts from the 3rd to 7th day of the infection, when the fever and blood pressure are reduced. The patient experiences restlessness, weakness, cold skin, rapid heart rate, vomiting of blood, and internal bleeding.
• Convalescent (Recovery) - The patient comes back to a normal state and feels hungry, their pulse is normal, and the only symptom of this stage is a rash on the arms and legs.

Complete Blood Count: Patients with dengue virus infection have platelets less than 1,00,000 /mL. In critical patients, platelets may be as low as 20,000 /mL.

A complete blood count test helps detect the platelet count, RBC, WBC, hemoglobin, and hematocrit.

• NS1 Dengue Test
• Dengue NS-1 Antigen
• Dengue NS1 Test
• NS-1 Antigen Test
• Dengue Virus NS1 Antigen

People with the following warning signs should do the dengue test:

• Stomach pain
• Vomiting more than three times a day
• Tenderness of stomach
• Restlessness
• Lethargy
• Mucosal bleed
• Enlarged liver

Dengue takes 3 to 14 days to show symptoms in the human body.