2083. Rapid Diagnosis and Differentiation of Dengue During Peri-monsoon Season in Tropical Resource Limited Facilities

BACKGROUND: Dengue is a re-emerging public health problem threatening the tropical developing world, mandating rapid diagnosis and supportive management in the absence of licensed vaccines or anti-dengue therapy. Regions endemic for dengue and related viruses are overwhelmed by the sudden surge of cases during outbreaks. It is difficult to justify confirmatory diagnosis of every case using WHO criteria or differentiate it from other concurrent viral illnesses. The study evaluated a rapid, sensitive and specific diagnostic methodology suitable for dengue outbreaks in resource limited facilities. METHODS: One hundred dengue patients as per WHO Criteria as well as 100 healthy controls from New Delhi, India were included. Samples collected on fifth day on onset of fever were tested by lateral flow immunochromatography (LF-ICT), IgM ELISA and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and results were compared. Diagnostic accuracy indices and Kappa analysis were calculated. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) of NS1 against RT-PCR was 98.31, 100, 100, and 99.3% and strength of agreement was perfect. CONCLUSION: Antigen-based and molecular tests are a better tool for early diagnosis of dengue. The combined LF-ICT kits are highly sensitive, specific, user-friendly, compact, frugal and thus recommended for use in dengue outbreaks, field conditions and as bed side diagnostic tests, for confirmatory dengue diagnosis. Further studies are required to assess their utility in prognosis, surveillance and establishment of guidelines for dengue outbreaks. DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.