As Indians, we have seen a lot of diseases lurking around the nation and have beaten them with rapid action. One such disease that you might be aware of is Chikungunya. It is a viral disease that is spread by mosquito bites. This viral disease is borne by a specific breed of mosquito, Aedes.
Even though this disease is mainly spread through mosquito bites, there is a scope for you to be affected by it due to organ transplants or congenital transmission. One is expected to take immediate action if there is any sign or symptom of chikungunya disease. But how to realize if there is a possibility you are infected with it?
Some of the profound symptoms that you might experience on an immediate basis will be high fever, fatigue, or joint pain. When you visit your doctors with these symptoms, they will predict it to be Chikungunya and will recommend you to take a blood test to determine the same.
The Chikungunya test is the only way to determine the intensity of the viral infection and prevent transmission. With proper diagnosis, it will be possible for doctors to recommend a quick and reliable recovery process.
To help you know more about the disease and the diagnostic test that follows, read along this article till the end.
Understanding Chikungunya Test
As the name suggests. The Chikungunya test is conducted by collecting blood samples from the patient exhibiting the associated symptoms, most likely high fever. Upon conducting this test, the doctors will be able to detect the levels of IgM and IgG antibodies within the blood sample.
These levels of antibodies will detect if the body is responding to the ongoing chikungunya infection or if the patient has been recovering from a past encounter with this disease. Based on the reports, if the doctors discover the presence of these antibodies within the blood sample of the patient, recommending treatment or further tests will be easier for them.
What’s the Right Time to Get the Chikungunya Fever Test?
The right time for getting the Chikungunya fever test is right at the moment when you identify adverse health symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, sudden fever, muscle pain, joint swelling, or others. There might indeed be several other reasons for such symptoms to occur, but your doctor will still advise you to get the test done to attain peace of mind.
This is mostly because delaying the diagnosis of chikungunya disease might result in severe complications and might also make it difficult for doctors to approach the treatment.
Procedure for Conducting the Chikungunya Test
When you book your appointment at the diagnostic centre and come for the chikungunya test, you will be prepared by the lab expert so that your blood sample can be collected. The process is simple, just like any other blood test, where your arms will be disinfected with alcohol or spirit, following which the lab technician will look for visible veins.
Once found, the blood will be collected through a needle and syringe and will be stored in a closed tube. Now, your sample will then be sent to the lab for it to be checked or tested by the specified experts. The puncture site on your arm will be bandaged to stop the minor bleeding. You will be getting the reports in the shortest time possible.
There are no risks associated with the test, as there will just be minor skin bruising, common when blood is drawn from the arms. In some rare cases, the patient might faint or feel dizzy.
You do not need specific fasting or preparatory measures from your end to conduct the chikungunya test. But, the doctors might still recommend you to take certain precautions before you take up the test process, which includes:
- Do not smoke for at least 2 hours before the test.
- Avoid eating just 2 hours before the blood is to be collected.
- Prevent eating some specific supplements or medications.
- Keep yourself hydrated enough before the test.
How to Interpret the Test Results of Chikungunya?
As per the medical experts, the chikungunya test must be conducted within six days of being affected by the disease. Therefore, the moment you witness the symptoms, as stated earlier in the article, do not delay taking up a doctor’s consultation for a bit.
Once you have given the test, the results will be provided, either to you or will be sent to the doctors directly. However, you should still be aware of how to interpret the results. So, the IgM and IgG test results for the onset of Chikungunya are stated below:
- If the IgG or IgM antibody levels are between 0.8 and 1.09, there is a chance that the chikungunya antibody is present within your body. To confirm, it is recommended you take the test again in one or two weeks.
- If the IgG or IgM antibody levels are above 1.10, it definitely indicates that there are chikungunya antibodies in your body, which is primarily due to ongoing or past infection.
Depending on the level of these antibodies present in your blood, the doctors shall predict the intensity of the infection that you are going through. But, there will be some other tests that they might recommend if the antibody levels are high in your case.
Also Read: Dengue Fever: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Conclusion
Chikungunya infection is considered one of the easily transmissible diseases, and it might quickly trigger an epidemic if patients don’t take it seriously to get the condition diagnosed. It is expected that every individual be prompt upon getting their conditions screened if they experience unexpected joint aches, muscle sprains, or high fever. This will help doctors control the local spread.
Suppose you have proven yourself to be a responsible citizen of the nation and have got your symptoms consulted by the doctor. In that case, you will be immediately asked to get done with the chikungunya blood test. And that’s where you must count on reaching out to the best diagnostic centre, and Agilus Diagnostics is just the right one for you.
At Agilus Diagnostics, we provide you with a safe and contained chikungunya fever test. Moreover, we use modern equipment operated by experienced technicians to give you accurate Chikungunya test results. The best thing is you can book your test slot right from the comfort of your home. Search for the chikungunya test on our site, and book your slot immediately!
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
