Diagnostic Accuracy of NS1 Tests for Dengue
Author Information
Author(s): Ty Hang Vu, Minh Nguyet Nguyen, The Trung Dinh, Tricou Vianney, Yoksan Sutee, Minh Dung Nguyen, Van Ngoc Tran, Hien Tran Tinh, Farrar Jeremy, Wills Bridget, Simmons Cameron P.
Primary Institution: Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Hypothesis
The study aims to assess the sensitivity and specificity of NS1 assays for diagnosing dengue in patients.
Conclusion
NS1 assays are valuable for diagnosing dengue, especially within the first three days of illness.
Supporting Evidence
- The Platelia NS1 ELISA was more sensitive than the NS1 LFRT for diagnosing acute dengue.
- Both tests were 100% specific for patients without dengue.
- NS1 positivity was associated with higher viraemia levels.
- Tests were more sensitive for primary dengue than secondary dengue.
- NS1 tests were most sensitive when samples were collected within 3 days of illness onset.
Takeaway
The tests that check for a dengue virus protein called NS1 can help doctors figure out if someone has dengue, especially if they test within the first few days of being sick.
Methodology
The study compared the sensitivity and specificity of the Platelia NS1 ELISA and NS1 lateral flow rapid test against a gold standard reference diagnostic algorithm in 138 patients.
Potential Biases
There may be bias in the sensitivity of NS1 tests due to the timing of sample collection and the presence of antibodies.
Limitations
The study had relatively few patients without dengue, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
The study included 138 Vietnamese children and adults with suspected dengue.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.047
Confidence Interval
95% CI
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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