Chikungunya IgM Test

The Chikungunya IgM test helps in the diagnosis of chikungunya fever, which is quite common during the monsoons. This is a blood test that, as the name suggests, detects chikungunya IgM antibodies and analyses their levels in the blood. With Max Lab, you can book a cost-effectively priced chikungunya test online and even opt for at-home sample collection with ease.

Overview of the Chikungunya IgM Test

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne disease that is very common during monsoon seasons. This viral fever causes high fever and joint pain but is rarely fatal. However, the symptoms can be quite severe, long-lasting, and weakening. A chikungunya test is performed to detect the presence chikungunya-specific IgM antibodies in the blood. These antibodies are produced by the body in response to the chikungunya virus, and they remain in the blood for a certain period of time even after the infection has been treated. The IgM antibodies can be detected in the initial stage of the infection as well. The IgM lab test for chikungunya is one of the most reliable tests to detect the presence of the viral infection.

Chikungunya is a viral infection that spreads through mosquito bites. Since there is a higher amount of humidity in the atmosphere during the monsoon season, it is a favourable time for mosquitoes to breed, which is why the instances of viral infections like chikungunya tend to increase during the rainy season.

When is the Chikungunya IgM Test Prescribed?

If a person is displaying common symptoms of chikungunya, they may be prescribed to undergo the Chikungunya IgM test to detect the presence of antibodies in the blood. Even after a person is no longer infected by chikungunya, the antibodies remain in the blood, their levels declining slowly over time. That is why the test is also used to confirm the infection has been treated completely. As several symptoms of chikungunya are similar to those of other ailments like dengue, the chikungunya test can also be prescribed to rule out other diseases.

An individual may be prescribed a chikungunya blood test for diagnosis, or as a part of a monsoon fever test panel, if they are displaying symptoms like:

• High Fever
• Joint Pain
• Headache
• Muscle Pain
• Rash
• Swelling around the joints

Other than this, some individuals may also develop the lesser common symptoms of chikungunya, like maculopapular rashes, conjunctivitis, nausea, and vomiting, etc. The symptoms normally appear within a few days after being bitten by a virus-carrying mosquito. Some symptoms may last for days, while others, like joint pain, may take months to go away completely.

The cost of the chikungunya test will depend on whether it is being performed as a standalone test or as a part of a panel of tests.

Complications that can be caused by Chikungunya

If not diagnosed and treated on time, chikungunya can lead to the development of a number of other serious health conditions, including:

• Uveitis: In this condition, the layer in the eye, between the inner retina and outer fibrous layer, gets inflamed.
• Retinitis: Inflammation of the retina.
• Myocarditis: This causes inflammation in the muscles of the heart.
• Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver.
• Nephritis: Inflammation of the kidneys.
• Haemorrhage: Internal bleeding caused by ruptured blood vessels.
• Meningoencephalitis: Inflammation of the membranes of the brain and adjoining cerebral tissue.
• Myelitis: Spinal cord inflammation.
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A rare peripheral nervous system disease.
• Cranial Nerve Palsies: Loss of function in the cranial nerves.

While chikungunya can be treated effectively if detected on time, there are several measures you can take to avoid infection and the incumbent cost of the chikungunya blood test completely. Using insect repellent on the skin and clothes, wearing clothes that cover the body, avoiding going outdoors, especially during evenings, avoiding areas with chikungunya outbreaks, sleeping under a mosquito net, and using mosquito coils and insecticide vaporisers are the steps that can be taken during the monsoons to ensure protection against chikungunya.

Time Required for Test Report + Next Steps

If prescribed, one should not simply search for a ‘chikungunya test near me’, but should choose an NABL-accredited lab, like Max Lab, to get the test done. You can check the price of the chikungunya IgM test at Max Lab and make a booking for the same online. Max Lab also offers at-home sample collection facilities that you can opt for.

The test report is generated within 24 hours of sample collection and are made available for download on the Max Lab website.

Once the report is available, it is recommended to consult a doctor who will be able to properly interpret the results and suggest a relevant treatment plan or prescribe further tests, if required.