New test detects dengue earlier
The Department of Health said there has been an upsurge of dengue cases in the country this year. From January to May alone, a total of 14,378 cases were admitted to different sentinel hospitals nationwide, compared to 9,374 cases during the same period last year.
Dengue cases in 2007 totaled 44,442 with 411 deaths. Contrary to public belief, dengue is not a seasonal disease anymore. Dengue-carrying mosquitoes can breed and spread the disease yearlong if the conditions are right.
Dengue fever is an arthropode-borne viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, Stegomyia aegypti (formerly Aedes aegypti), causing a wide range of symptoms from unapparent or mild disease (dengue fever) to a severe hemorrhagic form (dengue hemorrhagic fever).
Dengue is endemic in more than 100 countries, mainly in tropical and subtropical regions, including the
Existing dengue tests identify the virus indirectly by detecting the antibodies. These tests cannot be used for early diagnosis because these antibodies are only detectable five to 10 days after the onset of fever in cases of primary infections and four to five days in cases of secondary infections.
Lifeline Diagnostics Supplies Inc., exclusive distributor of Bio-Rad products in the
The Bio-Rad Dengue NS1 Antigen Strip is a new test based on specific detection of the dengue virus antigen as early as on day zero to five of fever. It can also detect all the four serotypes of the virus.
Results can be obtained after 15 minutes. Because of this breakthrough, this new rapid test helps doctors to diagnose dengue cases several days earlier. Early diagnosis enables doctors to improve patient care, thus reducing rates of morbidity and mortality.
For more information on the Bio-Rad Dengue NS1 Antigen Strip, call Lifeline Diagnostics Supplies Inc. at 02 376-5917.
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