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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, March 2007, p. 887-890, Vol. 45, No. 3
0095-1137/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.02063-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Use of Capillary Blood Samples as a New Approach for Diagnosis of Dengue Virus Infection{triangledown}

Séverine Matheus,1* Jean-Baptiste Meynard,2 Vincent Lacoste,3 Jacques Morvan,1 and Xavier Deparis4

Centre National de Référence des Arbovirus, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana,1 Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana,2 Laboratoire des interactions Virus Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana,3 Département d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Ecole du Val de Grâce, Paris, France4

Received 6 October 2006/ Returned for modification 19 November 2006/ Accepted 27 December 2006

We evaluated the use of capillary blood samples stored on filter papers for diagnosis of dengue virus infection. Venous and capillary blood samples were collected from 130 patients suspected of having dengue fever. We compared the performances of standard reference methods using capillary blood samples absorbed onto filter papers versus venous blood samples. The resulting sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of tests performed on filter paper compared to those performed on venous blood samples were 81.6% (62/76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 74.9% to 88.3%), 90.7% (49/54; 95% CI, 85.7% to 95.7%), and 92.5% (62/67; 95% CI, 86.2% to 98.8%), respectively. During the acute phase of dengue virus infection (day 1 to day 4), the tests performed on capillary blood samples had a sensitivity of 88.5% (95% CI, 82.0% to 95.0%) and a specificity of 93.8% (95% CI, 88.9% to 98.7%). During the convalescent phase of infection, this method allowed the viral serotype to be determined for 4 of 15 (27%) dengue virus-infected patients for whom virological diagnosis using venous samples was negative. Capillary blood samples could therefore be a good alternative for the diagnosis of dengue virus infection in tropical areas. Indeed, these samples are convenient for storage and transport without the need for a cold chain and simplify the collection of samples from children. Moreover, our results suggest that viral particles persist longer in capillary blood than in peripheral blood. Analysis of the viability of viral particles under these conditions may give new insights into the physiopathology of dengue virus infection and the transmission of dengue virus during outbreaks.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Centre National de Référence des Arbovirus, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, 23 avenue Pasteur, BP 6010, 97306 Cayenne cedex, French Guiana. Phone: 594 29 58 12. Fax: 594 30 94 16. E-mail: smatheus{at}pasteur-cayenne.fr.

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 17 January 2007.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, March 2007, p. 887-890, Vol. 45, No. 3
0095-1137/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.02063-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Anwar, A., Wan, G., Chua, K.-B., August, J. T., Too, H.-P. (2009). Evaluation of Pre-Analytical Variables in the Quantification of Dengue Virus by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction. J. Mol. Diagn. 11: 537-542 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Matheus, S., Meynard, J.-B., Lavergne, A., Girod, R., Moua, D., Labeau, B., Dussart, P., Lacoste, V., Deparis, X. (2008). Dengue-3 Outbreak in Paraguay: Investigations Using Capillary Blood Samples on Filter Paper. Am J Trop Med Hyg 79: 685-687 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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