The chikungunya virus (CHIK) is a mosquito-borne virus
transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. There
has been a wide global dissemination during the past five
years[1,2]
. Conventionally, a specific CHIK diagnosis is
made through detection of virus in samples collected in the
early phase of illness by reverse transcriptase-polymerase
chain reaction (RT-PCR) or virus isolations in C6/36 or
vero cell lines. Later, anti-CHIK antibodies are present in
patients that are detected by an enzyme immunoassay or
immunofluorescence assay. The diagnostic utility of one of the commercial rapid CHIK
IgM assay was investigated during the 2010 spurt in CHIK-
and dengue- virus cases in the Indian capital metropolis of
New Delhi. Preliminary data have been affirmative and the
assay is preferred by clinicians for better management of
their patients.