Issue advisory on dengue test: Doctors to govt

The Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists (IAMM) has urged the Delhi government to issue an advisory, clarifying that dengue ELISA is not required to start treatment of a patient suffering from the vector-borne disease or for getting him/ her admitted to a hospital.

The suggestion comes in the wake of tempers running high at testing centres with people demanding immediate results of their ELISA test, which is performed to diagnose the disease. 

“There is panic or hysteria that has been created in the community with high tempers, where people are demanding dengue ELISA reports immediately quoting its availability and recommendation by authorities. The perception created in the public is that nothing can be done unless dengue ELISA report is made available,” Dr Chand Wattal, Secretary of IAMM said this in a letter to the Delhi government.

He added: “Due to logistic reasons, ELISA reports cannot be issued before its due time, which cannot be less than six hours for each run. Thus, there is a need for an advisory from your esteemed office, clarifying that dengue ELISA is not vital or pre requisite for admission or <g data-gr-id="19">therapy</g> but haemogram is.” 

Wattal said contrary to the rapid tests the results of which are available in 15-30 minutes, the ELISA IgM tests cannot be done on a single sample basis and takes a minimum of 4-6 hours.