To investigate capability of the detection methods for NS1 antigen, IgM antibody and nucleic acid to identify clinically diagnosed dengue cases, so as to provide scientific evidence for the control and prevention of the epidemics.

A total of 426 serum samples were collected from clinically diagnosed dengue patients. The samples were tested respectively for NS1 antigen and IgM antibody by colloidal gold methods. Fluorescent RT-PCR was used to detect types of dengue virus..

There was no statistically significant difference in the results of NS1 colloidal gold method and the RT-qPCR tests by paired Chi-square test. NS1 tests were obviously better than IgM colloidal gold methods. No significant differences were found between the two NS1 methods or the two IgM colloidal gold methods. The primary infection by dengue virus serotype 1 was dominant during the dengue epidemic in Guangdong province and Jiangsu province in 2019.

The comparison of the three methods indicated that the results of NS1 colloidal gold method had no statistically significant difference from those by RT-qPCR, and were convenient and inexpensive. The method was better than the other two methods and suitable for early diagnosis of dengue fever and for large scale epidemiological screening.

Dengue fever; NS1 antigen; Colloidal gold method; Fluorescent RT-PCR; Clinically diagnosed cases