A novel reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction based-liquid hybridisation (RT-PCR-LH) assay for early diagnosis of dengue infection.

Background: Early definitive laboratory diagnosis of dengue is difficult with the tests in routine use at present.

Objective: To develop a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction based liquid hybridisation (RT-PCR-LH) technique for the rapid and early diagnosis of dengue.

Research Design: RT-PCR products of the NS3 gene of dengue virus prototypes and of a few positive sera for dengue virus by culture, were allowed to hybridise in liquid phase with a mixture of dengue specific radiolabelled oligonucleotides.