Dengue is the most common arthropod-borne viral disease and is prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas. The typical manifestations of dengue include fever, headache and myalgia, and these symptoms are commonly present in various inflammatory and infectious diseases. Therefore, the accurate diagnosis of dengue relies on laboratory studies [1]. Currently, capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for dengue immunoglobulin M antibody (dengue IgM) is the most widely applied test. However, dengue IgM antibodies cross-react with other flaviviruses, and a number of non-dengue diseases have been reported to produce positive reactions in dengue serological tests [1–5].