Seroprevalence of dengue in Trinidad using rapid test kits: a cord blood survey

A cross-sectional sero-epidemiological study was conducted to determine the prevalence of dengue in Trinidad. Two commercial rapid test kits, PanBio Dengue Duo IgM and IgG Rapid Strip Test and the Bio-Check Plus Dengue G/M Cassette Test (Brittney) were used. The immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (FOCUS Technologies, California) was used as the control. One hundred and twenty five cord blood samples were collected (46 from Mt. Hope Women's Hospital (MH) and 79 from the San Fernando General Hospital (SF)). All blood samples were tested in accordance with the two rapid kits and ELISA assay manufacturer's instructions. From 125 cord blood samples, the IgG FOCUS ELISA results showed 93.5 and 95% infections at MH and SF, respectively. Whereas the Brittney and PanBio kits showed 10.9 and 5.1%, and 26.1 and 50.6% for MH and SF, respectively. Based on the FOCUS ELISA (control) assays, the combined seroprevalence rate from north and south Trinidad was 94.4%. IgG and IgM sensitivity and specificity levels were higher in the PanBio than Brittney test kits. The high seroprevalence rates observed in Trinidad are discussed to stimulate more research to explain this phenomenon and to prevent the Southeast Asian scenario from developing in the Americas.