Precursors to non-invasive clinical dengue screening: Multivariate signature analysis of in-vivo diffuse skin reflectance spectroscopy on febrile patients in Malaysia

PLoS One. 2020 Apr 1;15(4):e0228923. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228923. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Dengue diagnostics have come a long way. Attempts at breaking away from lab-oriented dengue detection, such as NS1 antigen, IgM or IgG antibodies detection have extensively received numerous coverage. As a result, rapid detection tests (RDTs) have started to gain inroads in medical practice. Rapid detection tests notwithstanding, analysis of blood serum is still a relatively complicated task. This includes the necessity of phlebotomy, centrifugation for blood serum, and other reagent-based tests. Therefore, a non-invasive method of dengue detection was considered. In this study, we present the utility of diffuse reflectance skin spectroscopy (bandwidth of 200-2500nm) on the forearm during the triaging period for dengue screening potential. This is performed with multivariate analysis of 240 triaged febrile/suspected dengue patients. The data is then scrutinized for its clinical validity to be included as either confirmed or probable dengue, or a control group. Based on discriminant analysis of several data normalization models, we can predict the patients' clinical dengue-positivity at ranges of accuracy between ~93-98% depending on mode of the data, with a probably optimal sensitivity and specificity to the clinical diagnosis of ~89% and ~100% respectively. From the outcomes of this study, we recommend further trials with cautious optimism. With these findings, it is hoped that the elusive non-invasive detection of tropical diseases may gain platform in the near future.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Dengue / diagnostic imaging*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Malaysia
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / methods*
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Skin / diagnostic imaging*
  • Spectrum Analysis / methods*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Prototype Research Grant Scheme (PR001-2019B, PRGS/2/2019/SKK02/UM/01/1) by Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia. Rceived by: AHP University of Malaya’s Postgraduate Grant (PPP, PG0962016A), https://umresearch.um.edu.my/funding-opportunities-information Role: Data collection Rceived by:MM Ministry of Higher Education’s Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS Grant, FP003-2014B), https://mastic.mestecc.gov.my/sti-incentive/fundamental-research-grant-scheme-frgs Role: Setup procurement Rceived by: FRMA Malaysia's High Impact Research Grant (HIR Grant, HIR UM.00000005/HIR.C1) https://www.um.edu.my/faq-research-high-impact-research-grant Role: Setup materials