MANILA, Philippines - A new diagnostic test is now available which can confirm dengue cases in as little as 15 minutes.

The NS1 test can detect the presence of dengue virus even at its early stages without the need to wait for a few days for the results.

The test was developed using new technology from France.

"Sa unang araw pa lang ng pagkakaroon ng fever ng tao, [makikita] kung may dengue infection na siya. Hindi na kailangan pang tumagal para malamang may dengue," said Dr. Orlando Lopez of St. Luke's Medical Center.

The NS1 test is conducted by first taking a blood sample from the patient. The serum and red blood cells are then separated. The serum is placed in a test tube and mixed with the chemical NS1. The resulting liquid will then be placed on the NS1 strip, which works like a pregnancy test.

Two strips will show if the blood is positive for dengue, and one strip will show if it's negative.

The whole process takes only 15 minutes to less than one hour.

"Makaka-intervene agad ang doktor para maiwasang magkaroon ng komplikasyon 'yung infection with the dengue virus," said Lopez.

The Department of Health (DOH) admitted the NS1 is effective, but it is costly. The test costs P2,000, while a complete blood count (CBC) test costs only P400 in hospitals.

"Hindi namin ito nirerekomenda for routine use kasi masyadong mahal," said Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the DOH's National Epidemiology Center.

According to the DOH, the NS1 test, although fast, is not 100% accurate.

Tayag said the best way to combat dengue is close monitoring for signs of dengue symptoms: vomiting, stomach ache, difficulty in breathing, bloated belly, restlessness, and bleeding of nose and gums.

What to do when a person has dengue

If funds are tight and there is already dengue in its early stages, the DOH advises the intake of oral rehydration solution (oresol) to combat dehydration.

Oresol is readily available in drugstores and hospitals at reasonable prices, and at health centers for free, but it can also be prepared at home by making the 181 formula: one liter of water plus 8 teaspoons of sugar plus 1 teaspoon of salt. The patient must be made to drink one cup of this solution every one or two hours.

"Ito po ay proven ng mga doktor. Tapos tingnan niyo po kung malakas ang ihi. Kung hindi, dalhin na sa ospital," said Tayag.

Tayag is also against the use of aspirin to treat fever. "Puwedeng lumala ang bleeding," he said.

Instead, the DOH advocates the use of paracetamol for fever.

The health department also advised caregivers to give the patient a sponge bath, particularly in the armpits and groin area, and to change the patient's clothes.

The DOH also clarified that the use of "tawa-tawa" leaves as alternative treatment for dengue has no medical basis. It has not been proven effective unlike the oresol treatment.

Deaths due to dengue in the country have gone up by 33% in the past 8 months. A total of 465 people have died due to dengue this year. The DOH estimates that the number of dengue cases will reach 80,000 this year.

Because of this, Filipinos are advised to take extra precaution. -- Reports from Zyann Ambrosio and Niña Corpuz, ABS-CBN News