Yellow fever laboratory diagnostic testing in Africa

Overview

The current yellow fever outbreaks in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have highlighted that timely laboratory confirmation of suspected yellow fever cases is an essential part of an effective response. In 2010, yellow fever case definitions, including criteria for laboratory testing were established by a global expert consultation1i . This guidance builds on those yellow fever case definitions, clarifying which tests should be done in outbreak and non-outbreak situations. Although laboratory testing is an essential part of making a yellow fever diagnosis, final confirmation should be done on a case-by-case basis including analysis of the clinical presentation, epidemiological context, and vaccination history.