Discrimination between primary and secondary dengue virus infection by using an immunoglobulin G avidity test.

ABSTRACT

Discrimination between primary and secondary dengue infections is important, as the possibility ofDHF is more in secondary infection. Therefore, there is need to develop a test that can distinguishbetween primary and secondary serological responses. The traditionally-used haemagglutinationinhibition (HI) test, which is recommended by the World Health Organization, is complicated toperform. We standardized an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit with some modifications todiscriminate between primary and secondary dengue infections. Sera from 72 patients with acutedengue infection were tested. Seventy-one of the 72 patients were correctly classified (18 of 18 patientswith primary dengue and 53 of 54 patients with secondary dengue). We conclude that this rapid andsimple test is an excellent alternative to the HI test for discriminating between primary and secondarydengue virus infections during the acute phase of dengue.