Comparison of PanBio Dengue Duo IgM and IgG capture ELISA and venture technologies dengue IgM and IgG dot blot.

Background: A number of commercial ELISA for dengue diagnosis have recently become available, though direct comparison between these assays have not been published.

Objectives: The Venture Technologies Dengue IgM and IgG Dot Blot assays and the PanBio Dengue Duo IgM and IgG Capture ELISA were compared.

Study Design: Paired sera from patients with dengue (n=20) and Japanese encephalitis (JE, n=10), and single sera from patients with typhoid (n=10), leptospirosis (n=10) and scrub typhus (n=10) were assayed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Results: The Dot Blot IgM ELISA showed higher sensitivity than the PanBio IgM ELISA (100 vs. 95%), while the PanBio IgM ELISA showed higher specificity in JE (100 vs. 20%) and non-flavivirus infections (100 vs. 97%). Defining elevation of either IgM or IgG as a positive result, the Dot Blot and ELISA tests both showed 100% sensitivity in dengue infection, while the PanBio test showed superior specificity in JE (70 vs. 0%) and non-flavivirus infections (100 vs. 67%).

Conclusions: Both assays are useful aids to the serological diagnosis of dengue infection. The clinical setting, user preference and local conditions will be important in determining which test is more appropriate.