Accurate Diagnosis of Chikungunya Fever: Key Laboratory Testing Considerations and the JinHao Diagnostic Protocol
发布时间：2025.07.29
Chikungunya fever (CHIK) is an acute infectious disease caused by the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and transmitted through the bite of vector Aedes mosquitoes. Its modes of transmission, epidemiological characteristics, and clinical manifestations are similar to those of dengue fever.
Although there is currently no specific antiviral treatment for chikungunya, management is primarily symptomatic. However, patients with dengue fever should use aspirin, ibuprofen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with caution to avoid exacerbating bleeding. Therefore, accurate diagnosis is essential. Differentiating between chikungunya fever and dengue fever Especially important.
Meanwhile, rapid and accurate diagnosis of chikungunya fever can enable “ Early detection, early reporting, early isolation, and early response. ”, effectively reducing the risk of epidemic spread.
Chikungunya Diagnosis
According to Technical Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Chikungunya Fever (2025 Edition) and “Diagnosis of Chikungunya Fever” (WS/T 590—2018) , the diagnostic criteria for chikungunya fever are based on the patient’s Epidemiological history 、 Clinical manifestations and Laboratory tests The results are subject to comprehensive evaluation. In areas where chikungunya fever has never been endemic, laboratory testing should be the primary basis for diagnosis.
Suspected case : Within 12 days of onset, the individual has traveled to a chikungunya‑endemic area or has worked in an area where the disease has occurred, and meets the clinical criteria.
Clinically diagnosed case : Individuals meeting the criteria for a suspected case and testing positive for serum-specific IgM antibodies
Confirmed case : Individuals who meet the criteria for a suspected case or a clinically diagnosed case and have any one of the following:
①Chikungunya virus nucleic acid positive
② Chikungunya virus was isolated by culture from clinical specimens.
③ A fourfold or greater increase in Chikungunya virus IgG antibody titers between the acute and convalescent phases.
Laboratory Testing for Chikungunya Fever
Laboratory tests for microbial infections typically include Serological examination and Pathogen examination 。
The commonly used laboratory tests for chikungunya fever are also categorized into these two aspects:
Serological examination: antibody testing
Pathogenological testing: nucleic acid testing, virus isolation and identification, antigen testing
Because virus isolation and identification place high demands on laboratory facilities, involve complex procedures, and are prone to contamination, they are difficult for most laboratories to meet; therefore, this paper will not address them at this time.
Antibody testing
Antibody testing is divided into Serum-specific IgM antibodies and Serum-specific IgG antibodies 。
Serum-specific IgM antibodies Indicates a recent or acute infection; it is the earliest class of antibodies produced by the body following pathogen exposure. Typically, starting from the day of onset, the… 1 IgM antibodies appear in the blood on day ... 5 Most patients tested positive.
Serum-specific IgG antibodies It indicates prior infection, chronic infection, the recovery phase, or immune protection, and appears later than IgM antibodies after infection. Generally, from the onset of illness, on the … day… 2 IgG antibodies appear in the blood on day ... 5 Most patients tested positive.
Common methods for antibody detection include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), colloidal gold immunoassay, and immunofluorescence antibody assay (IFA). Among these, the colloidal gold method, owing to its short assay time, better meets the requirements of rapid screening.
Serum-specific IgM antibodies are positive; in the convalescent phase, the titer of serum-specific IgG antibodies is at least fourfold higher than that in the acute phase. It can serve as a diagnostic criterion for chikungunya fever.
Nucleic acid testing
Nucleic acid testing is a technique that directly detects the genetic material (DNA or RNA) of pathogens and is not exclusive to COVID‑19 testing. It is a cornerstone of modern infectious disease diagnosis. “Gold standard” One of them.
Generally, after onset of the illness 4 Viral nucleic acid can be detected in the serum of most patients.
Chikungunya virus RNA was detected in the patient’s specimen. It can serve as a diagnostic criterion for chikungunya fever.
In addition, nucleic acid testing can be performed on Aedes mosquito samples to characterize the genetic diversity and transmission dynamics of chikungunya virus, as well as the vector‑borne infection prevalence and viral load in these mosquitoes.
Antigen test
Antigen testing directly detects the presence of Chikungunya virus structural proteins—such as the capsid protein and envelope proteins—in patient samples, typically collected during the early stages of illness.
Generally, after the onset of the illness… 3 The detection rate of chikungunya virus antigen is relatively high.
Common methods for antigen detection include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and colloidal gold immunoassays. Among these, the colloidal gold method is better suited to rapid screening due to its short assay time.
Serum chikungunya virus antigen positive It can be used for the preliminary screening of chikungunya fever.
In response to the chikungunya epidemic, Jinhao Pharmaceutical Possessing independently developed and manufactured products of Chikungunya virus nucleic acid detection kit (fluorescent PCR), Chikungunya virus IgM/IgG antibody detection kit (colloidal gold assay), Chikungunya virus antigen detection kit (colloidal gold assay) and more diagnostic kits for vector-borne pathogens.
Through rapid and accurate laboratory testing, achieve “ “Early detection, early reporting, early isolation, and early response” , effectively reducing the risk of epidemic spread.
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