Yashoda Hospitals > Diagnostics > Dengue IgM Test

What is the Dengue IgM Test?

People with symptoms of dengue fever or recent exposure to the disease undergo the Dengue IgM test. As the symptoms of dengue fever initially resemble other infections like malaria, diagnosing the infection without performing laboratory tests is difficult.

Serology for dengue virus-specific IgG and IgM antibodies can help confirm a primary or secondary diagnosis. On average, 5 days after infection, both main and secondary infections produce IgM, whereas IgG is produced 2-4 weeks after primary infection and practically immediately after secondary infection.

Negative test results for IgM antibodies and IgG antibodies may indicate that the patient does not have dengue fever and that the antibody level may be too low to measure.

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    Positive IgM and IgG dengue antibody testing in the first blood sample indicates a recent dengue infection. If you have a high level of IgG but a low or non-existent level of IgM, you've likely had an infection in the past. An increase of four-fold or more in the titre of dengue IgG antibodies between the first and the second samples 2 to 4 weeks apart indicates recent infection.

    A blood sample is collected from a vein of your arm through a needle. A small amount of blood is sucked out into the vial or the test tube. Patients may feel a minute sting when a needle is inserted or taken out. The patient is not required to do any specific preparation before the test.

    IgM positive test results indicate a recent dengue virus infection. After day 7 since the inception of symptoms, individuals with negative IgM results and unconfirmed cases had another round of serological testing done on them before day 8.

    Dengue virus antigen detection using the NAAT or NS1 is negative in patients with negative IgM results after seven days of symptoms.

    After being bitten by an infected mosquito, symptoms can begin within four days to two weeks and last for two to seven days. Post-fever bruising, gastrointestinal issues like nausea and vomiting, or respiratory issues like difficulty breathing could be there. Untreated DHF can cause dehydration, excessive bleeding, and shock.

    The doctor may recommend an IgM test if you are suffering from high fever and other flu-like symptoms associated with dengue. It is typically suggested during the monsoon season and outbreaks when dengue is common.

    If you have dengue, the doctor may order a CBC along with it. 

    The symptoms are:

    • High fever
    • Eye pain and headaches
    • Swollen glands.
    • Joint and muscle pain
    • Nausea, vomiting, and lack of appetite

    If you’re experiencing these signs, you can book an appointment with Yashoda Hospitals to get the dengue IgM test.

    You will have this blood test to detect the dengue virus. In this test, a small needle is used to draw blood from a vein in your arm by a medical professional during a blood test. After inserting the needle, the doctor removes a small amount of blood and places it in a vial or test tube.

    In cases of primary dengue infection, the IgM is detectable on days 3 to 5 and persists for 2 to 3 months, while the IgG appears on the fourteenth day and persists for life. IgG and IgM antibodies rise within one to two days of the onset of symptoms in secondary infections. As a result, patients with secondary infections usually, but not always, have a positive IgG test result.

    Antibodies against the dengue virus, both IgM and neutralising, normally develop at the end of the first week following infection. IgM levels vary but often begin to rise 4-5 days after the onset of symptoms and continue to rise for roughly 12 weeks after symptoms. They may, however, persist for longer periods of time.

    Dengue fever can lower platelet and white blood cell counts. The normal platelet count of 1.5 to 4 lacs in the body can drop to 20,000 to 40,000 in dengue patients. The reason for this is:

    • Dengue damages your bone marrow, which produces platelets./
    • Produce platelet-destroying antibodies.
    • Dengue virus can damage platelets and blood cells.

    IgM antibodies against the dengue virus are detectable 4-5 days after the symptoms start occurring and remain for about 12 weeks while the immune system fights the illness.

    Combined testing with NAAT and MAC-ELISA diagnoses within 1-7 days of illness. A convalescent-phase specimen is required when both tests from the acute specimen are negative for dengue virus infection.

    An antigen IgM test examines the dengue virus or antibodies created by the disease and transmitted to people by mosquitoes that reside in tropical and subtropical regions.

    People who are infected with one of the four dengue virus serotypes typically experience no symptoms or minor sickness. The prognosis for a speedy recovery is good if a patient has symptoms.

    Regular blood IgM levels range from 40 to 250 mg/dL. (milligrams per decilitre). However, the range can vary due to multiple reasons, including different techniques, equipment, and chemicals used. Normally, women's IgM levels are greater than men's. To get more accurate results about the immune system response, doctors often order IgM, IgA, IgG, and IgE together. 

    If you have questions regarding your IgM range, visit Yashoda Hospitals to get a free second opinion.