Blood draw · 2 analyses
Dengue (IgG and IgM)
Measures IgG and IgM antibodies against the dengue virus (dengue fever). To find out whether you have had dengue, or with symptoms after tropical travel.
€ 80,00
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Other analyses · Blood
Dengue IgM
Antibodies that may point to a recent dengue infection (dengue fever); only interpretable with IgG and travel history.
At a glance
- Measured in blood
- In 1 test panel
- Check the preparation
Explanation
Dengue IgM: what is measured?
In an infection with the dengue virus, the immune system first makes IgM antibodies. According to the LCI guideline (RIVM), these are detectable from about 4 days after the fever starts and, in a first infection, often remain for up to about 3 months, sometimes longer. In a second infection with the same type, little or no IgM develops. This test measures IgM and is used with symptoms that fit dengue after a stay in an area where the virus occurs.
What can it detect?
- Possible recent dengue infection, with symptoms during or after a stay in an area where dengue occurs
Result
What does the result mean?
Positive result
A positive IgM may fit a dengue infection in the past few months, but does not prove it. Because of the relationship with other viruses, such as Zika and yellow fever, the result can also be falsely positive; according to the LCI guideline (RIVM), an infection is only confirmed if the antibodies clearly rise in a second blood draw, or if the virus itself has been shown with an NS1 antigen test or PCR. Most people with dengue recover within a week. In a small group, severe symptoms develop after a few days, such as intense abdominal pain, persistent vomiting or bleeding gums; this needs medical care right away.
Negative result
A negative IgM makes a recent dengue infection less likely, but does not rule it out. In the first 3 to 4 days after the fever starts, IgM often cannot yet be detected; an NS1 antigen test or PCR then says more. In a second infection, IgM is sometimes not or barely detectable. Together with a positive IgG, a negative IgM usually fits an infection from longer ago.
After an abnormal result
With a positive IgM, the GP assesses the symptoms and usually has the blood count checked, and if needed has antibodies measured again after about 14 days to confirm the infection. With warning signs, such as intense abdominal pain, persistent vomiting or bleeding, referral to the hospital follows. Dengue is not notifiable in the European Netherlands; only in the Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba) is it notifiable in group C.
Reliability
How reliable is the test?
According to the LCI guideline (RIVM) on dengue, IgM is an indirect test that is hampered by cross-reaction with related viruses; travel history and vaccinations are needed to interpret the result. Without direct detection of the virus, the guideline only speaks of a confirmed infection with a clear rise in antibodies in a second blood draw about 14 days later. In the first week of symptoms, an NS1 antigen test and PCR are more reliable, because they show the virus itself.
What can affect the result?
- In the first 3 to 4 days after the fever starts, IgM often cannot yet be detected.
- Cross-reaction with related viruses such as Zika and yellow fever, also after vaccination, can give a falsely positive result.
- In a second infection, IgM is sometimes not or barely detectable.
- IgM can remain detectable for months after an infection, so a positive result does not always belong to the current symptoms.
Preparation
- Have your blood taken from about 4 days after the fever started; before that, the antibodies are often not yet measurable. If you have a fever now after traveling to the tropics, see a doctor the same day.
- Mention vaccinations against yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis or dengue; they can affect the result.
Who it is for
Who is the test useful for?
Useful for
Useful with symptoms that fit dengue, such as sudden fever, headache behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain and a rash, that started during or within 2 weeks after a stay in a (sub)tropical area, and if the fever started at least 4 days ago. Fever during or after a trip to the tropics should be assessed by a doctor the same day, among other things to rule out malaria; do not wait for the result of this test. Without symptoms or without a stay in an area where dengue occurs, the test is not useful.
How common is it?
In the European Netherlands, dengue is a disease brought back by travelers; laboratories registered 367 positive dengue results in 2023 and 544 in 2024, compared with an average of 136 per year in 2014 to 2019. An estimated 60 to 80 percent of infections cause few or no symptoms. According to the LCI guideline (RIVM), 2 to 16 percent of people diagnosed with dengue develop a severe form.
LCI guideline Dengue (RIVM, weekly virological reports)
Drawbacks and risks
- Waiting for this result with fever after a trip to the tropics can delay the assessment of a more serious cause, such as malaria.
- A falsely positive IgM, or one still present from an old infection, can lead to a wrong explanation of symptoms.
Get tested
Dengue IgM: test panels
Dengue IgM is part of these test panels. You order online and have your blood drawn at a collection point or collect the sample at home.
Evidence
Sources
This explanation is based on Dutch guidelines and independent information. It is general information, not a diagnosis. Discuss an abnormal result with your GP.
More about risks and results