Dengue Fever Test
Reviewed
Also called: dengue virus antibody, dengue virus by PCR
A dengue fever test checks a sample of your blood to see if you have the virus.
Specimen: blood
Urgent safety information
Get medical help right away if you or a family member has any of these warning signs of severe dengue: Abdominal (belly) pain or tenderness, Vomiting (at least 3 times in 24 hours), Bleeding from the nose or gums, Vomiting blood or blood in stool (poop), Feeling tired, restless, or irritable.
Why this test may be ordered
- You have symptoms of dengue fever (sudden high fever, nausea, vomiting, rash, eye pain, headache, joint/bone/muscle pain) and have recently traveled to an area where dengue is common.
- To confirm a dengue infection and guide symptom management.
Preparation and collection
You don’t need any special preparations for a dengue fever test.
Your provider will ask about your symptoms and your recent travels. If an infection is suspected, you will get a blood test to check for the dengue virus.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
Understanding results
If you had an antibody test, your test results may be reported either as positive or negative, or as a measurement of the dengue antibodies found in your blood sample.
- Molecular (PCR) test positive: A positive test result means that the test found genetic material from the virus in your blood sample. You most likely have a dengue infection. Limitation: These tests can be done during the first seven days after your symptoms begin. Next step: If you have dengue fever, your provider can tell you how to treat your symptoms.
- Molecular (PCR) test negative: A negative test result means that the dengue virus wasn’t found in your blood sample. You probably don’t have dengue. Limitation: However, it’s possible that there wasn’t enough of the virus in your blood sample for the test to find. That might happen if the test was done more than seven days after your symptoms began. Next step: If your molecular test result is negative, your provider will usually order an antibody test to confirm that you don’t have dengue.
- Antibody test positive: A positive test result means that antibodies for the dengue virus were found. You probably have a dengue infection, but you may need another test to confirm the results. Limitation: That’s because the antibody test may have found antibodies that fight other similar viruses that mosquitoes carry, such as zika. Next step: Your provider may order another type of blood test to find out exactly which type of viral infection you have.
- Antibody test negative: A negative test result means that dengue antibodies weren’t found in your blood sample. Dengue may not be causing your symptoms. Limitation: But a negative result could mean that you were tested before your body had time to make enough antibodies to show on the test. Next step: So, your provider may order another antibody test after a few days to check again.
- Molecular tests may be negative if done more than 7 days after symptoms begin.
- Antibody tests may be negative if done too early (before 4 days) or may cross-react with other mosquito-borne viruses.
- A single negative test does not completely rule out dengue; follow-up testing may be needed.
What to do next
If you have dengue fever, your provider can tell you how to treat your symptoms. Do not take aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen sodium (Aleve), because they can increase the risk of bleeding.
- What type of dengue test did I receive (molecular or antibody)?
- Do I need a follow-up test to confirm the result?
- What symptoms should I watch for that might indicate severe dengue?
- Which pain or fever medicines are safe for me to take?
Evidence source
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). Practices and reference ranges may differ in your country.