Diagnosis
- Serology
- Serum or CSF for IgM antibodies is the standard test; usually positive by 3 to 8 days, and persist for 2 to 3 months
- If submitted CSF, must also submit serum
- May cross-react with other flaviviruses
- Can be seronegative if immunosuppressed (e.g. rituximab), therefore may need to do PCR
- Serum or CSF for IgM antibodies is the standard test; usually positive by 3 to 8 days, and persist for 2 to 3 months
- PCR
- RNA virus, therefore needs reverse transcriptase step (RT-PCR)
- Can be done on serum, CSF, and tissue
- On MRI, may have a slight preference for thalamus
