Pan-dengue virus detection by PCR for travelers returning from the tropics

We performed dengue virus (DENV) serology and quantitative real-time pan-DENV reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) on 186 sera of 171 patients returning from the tropics. DENV loads significantly decreased with increasing times of disease and were higher in immunoglobulin M-negative samples. In the first week of disease, pan-DENV RT-PCR is the test of choice.