The use of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the rapid detection and identification of dengue virus in an endemic region: a validation study.

Dengue is the most important arboviral disease worldwide. Dengue diagnosis is usually made by serology, but serological techniques do not identify the infecting strain, and are only useful late in the course of infection. Several reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) protocols have been described for dengue diagnosis but none of them has been used on a regular basis.