The Widal test is done to diagnose typhoid fever caused by the consumption of food or water contaminated by Salmonella bacteria. Typhoid fever is a severe illness, and if not treated on time, it can be life-threatening. Most cases of typhoid fever spread through a patient having unhygienic habits. The Widal test identifies antibodies created by the immune system in reaction to the fever-causing bacteria. It is a fast and easy test to help rule out or confirm typhoid fever. Here is everything to know about the Widal test.
Who Should Get Tested?
It may take around 7 to 30 days for a person to experience the initial signs and symptoms of typhoid fever after exposure to the infection. Doctors may prescribe this test for several reasons, especially when a person has the following symptoms:
· High fever
· Severe fatigue
· Body pain
· Loss of appetite and weakness
· Headaches
· Difficulty in paying attention
· Constipation, abdominal pain, or diarrhea
· Red Spots on the body
· Hallucinations or confusion
Test Procedure
It is a simple blood test wherein the blood sample is collected by inserting a thin needle into the vein in one of the arms of a person. The sample is sent to a diagnostic lab for analysis. If antibodies are present in the blood sample, they will react with the antiserum and cause clumping or agglutination of red blood cells. It indicates that the person has typhoid fever.
Interpretation of the Widal test Results
The positive result for the Widal test means that the person has typhoid fever. It means that body’s immune system has developed antibodies against bacteria in response to the infection. A titer of 1.80 or above the normal range in the Widal test is considered positive for typhoid fever. However, doctors interpret the test results in conjunction with the medical history and symptoms of the patients.
The Widal test is a rapid method to detect fever caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi or S. paratyphi. One can book the Widal test at a nominal price from any reliable diagnostic lab in India.