New method to detect viral diseases in 24 hrs

New Delhi: In a path-breaking technique, doctors have developed a method which can accurately and rapidly diagnose viral infections in patients, including dengue.

With a change in the technique of diagnostic tests, it can now be found out within 24 hours whether a patient is suffering from dengue or not.

Till now, doctors had problems of managing a patient's condition, who used to have all the symptoms of dengue, but would have to wait for laboratory test results to confirm the vector-borne disease.

Usually, doctors would be in a fix whether to start the course of medicines for dengue, or wait for three-four days to confirm the test results.

Now, with the advent of molecular diagnostic approach, a path-breaking method adopted by leading diagnostics company iGenetic, doctors can accurately and rapidly diagnose various viral infections.

According to data from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, DGHS, over 1,57,220 dengue cases were recorded last year – an over five-fold increase from 2010.

Missed or even delayed diagnosis can lead to severe complications due to dengue. Two-thirds of dengue deaths are due to missed or delayed diagnosis, necessitating use of a quick and reliable method for detection.

Routine testing for dengue is done using ELISA to detect nonstructural protein 1 (NS1). IgM and IgG. NS1 can be used for detection in the first five days after infection, with IgM detected only after three-five days of illness in cases of primary infection.

Arunima Patel, founder and managing director of iGenetic, says "Dengue and other viral infections are difficult to diagnose using conventional microbiological methods. Viral cultures are not commonly done by routine diagnostic labs and serological methods have low sensitivity and specificity. We have successfully employed molecular diagnostic approaches to accurately and rapidly diagnose viral infections."

"Even other complex conditions like Septicemia and CNS infections are diagnosed in 24 hours at our diagnostic centre. Speed and accuracy of diagnosis are vital in critical care. Besides, our innovations help us keep prices affordable so that these services can be used even in smaller cities and villages," she adds.