Rift valley fever laboratory findings

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aakash Hans, MD[2]

Laboratory investigations are required for diagnosis of Rift valley fever and to observe hemoglobin, bilirubin and blood coagulation profiles.

• The main purpose is to detect the virus in the blood, which can be accomplished by a few tests.
• RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) and ELISA test (for antigen detection) may be used during the initial phase of the illness.^[1]
• IgM Antibodies : Once the viral load decreases in the blood, IgM antibody tests are helpful in detecting the presence of ongoing infection.
• IgG Antibodies : In recovered cases, testing for IgG antibodies aid in identifying cases who may have had a recent episode of RVF.
• In majority of cases, lab findings will not be significant for anything else except fever and low blood pressure.
• Low hemoglobin levels, raised bilirubin levels along with deranged blood coagulation profile and decreased platelet counts are seen in hemorrhagic RVF.
• Increased leukocytes in CSF along with presence of viral load in CSF would indicate encephalitis or meningitis due to RVF.

• https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/rvf/index.html

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