A new systematic review and meta-analysis of serological testing for scrub typhus diagnosis across India yields three essential clinical insights. First, diagnostic accuracy varies substantially across different immunological assay platforms and patient populations, highlighting the need for protocol standardisation and local validation. Second, pooled diagnostic accuracy data from this meta-analysis enable evidence-based clinical interpretation of serological test results, improving diagnostic confidence in resource-limited settings. Third, clinicians and public health authorities in endemic Indian regions should prioritise local validation studies and standardised serological protocols to enhance diagnostic reliability and reduce delays in antimicrobial treatment initiation. Given scrub typhus’s significant burden across South and Southeast Asia, implementing evidence-based diagnostic strategies at the regional and institutional level is essential for optimising patient outcomes and disease surveillance. Read the full article on GMJ Newsroom.
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