iCARE Dengue NS1 Rapid Test Kit
The iCARE Dengue NS1 Rapid test kit has several advantages. Designed to detect acute infection with the dengue virus without providing information on serotype, it is sensitive and specific. The test can be used at airports and detect imported cases of the disease. It is able to detect the NS1 nonstructural protein of the virus.
Detects Imported Dengue Cases at Airports in Taiwan
A new rapid test for dengue virus (DENV) was developed to detect imported cases of the virus at airports in Taiwan. The kit, iCARE Dengue NS1 Rapid Testing Kit, has high sensitivity and specificity, making it an effective tool for the on-site detection of suspected dengue cases. The kit was successfully used to screen 850 patients suspected of having dengue fever and identified 22 positive cases of dengue.
Taiwan’s health authorities are working together to combat the dengue fever epidemic. The Ministry of Health and Welfare convened a meeting with health care professionals from Taian City and Kaohsiung City for a coordinated strategy to fight the mosquito-borne disease. One of the conclusions reached by the meeting was that the National Health Insurance will cover the cost of Dengue NS1 antigen tests starting mid-September.
The rapid test for dengue NS1 is a rapid immunochromatographic strip assay that detects dengue non-structural protein in human serum. This rapid test detects early cases of Dengue even before IgM or IgG antibodies are present.
Detects Acute Infection With Dengue Virus Without Providing Serotype Information
iCARE Dengue NS1 Rapid Testing Kit is a point-of-care diagnostic test for acute infection with dengue virus. It is an alternative to SD Bioline Dengue Duo and SD Bioline Dengue NS1 ELISA. These two RDTs use biosensors to detect dengue virus, and both require approximately the same amount of blood specimen. The differences between them are mainly in the sample load and test duration.
In dengue-endemic countries, where diagnostic laboratories are not available, patients must rely on clinical recognition and bedside tests to make a diagnosis. Compared to other tests, the NS1 strip exhibits high sensitivity and specificity in acute infection with dengue virus but has lower sensitivity in secondary infections. The results of these tests were not affected by differences in viral serotypes, which could make the test more useful in cases where a patient has been exposed to multiple dengue infections.
The iCARE Dengue NS1 Rapid Testing Kit detects acute infection with dengue virus with a NS1 antigen without providing serotype information. The test results are accurate, and the positive test results are considered reliable. The test is available as a commercial diagnostic kit. A few public health laboratories also use this test.
Contains Nonstructural Protein NS1 of Dengue Virus
The iCARE Dengue NS1 Rapid test kit contains nonstructural protein NS1 of the dengue virus, a biomarker of acute infection with the virus. The test indicates whether you have had recent exposure to the virus and whether you are at risk for severe disease if you are infected with dengue. This test should be used for diagnostic purposes only. The NS1 antigen overlaps with dengue virus viremia, and thus can be used as an early warning sign of infection.
NS1 may be involved in coagulation, which means that it can affect the blood. One study showed that NS1 inhibited the activation of prothrombin, resulting in a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time. However, it is not known if NS1 is involved in thrombocytopenia, which is a complication of dengue infection. NS1 may also be involved in platelet aggregation and the destruction of platelets.