The agglutination test that detects serum agglutinins and their presence in patients with paratyphoid or typhoid fever is called WidalTest. This test is a milestone achievement in the field of medicine. If the facility for culturing isn’t available, the test proves a reliable way to diagnose typhoid fever. The test was developed in 1896 by Georges Ferdinand Widal, whereby the patient’s serum is tested for H antibodies and O antibodies or agglutinins. The test is performed at two intervals and between 7-10 days. With the passage of 7-10 days, the titer antibody rises in the serum, and thus the test must be performed twice. The doctor can also prescribe you a PSA or prostate-specific antigen test, which measures the amount of PSA in a male’s bloodstream.
What is the principle of the test?
The test relies on the fact that if any homologous antibody is present in the patient’s serum, it would certainly react with the reagent’s antigen and thus shows visible clumping in the test report or card. Here the antigens used in the particular test are ‘O’ and ‘H’ antigens. ‘O’ antigen is for Salmonella Typhi, whereas ‘H’ is for SParatyphi.
Why is the test performed?
The test is considered the most reliable test for enteric fever by the bacteria which causes malaria or Typhoid. In this Serological test, the serum is blended with the antibody of the person or patient. The test is performed to diagnose Typhoid. It is a popular test for Typhoid used for a century. It gives a confirmed report of whether or not the patient is suffering from Typhoid. It measures agglutinating antibody levels in the serum against H and O antigens. The message will be positive if carried out on the 10th day of the disease. If the patient received the TAB vaccine, the information would still be Positive but false.
When to opt for the test?
The reliable test is popular for detecting enteric fever. If the Typhoid fever is acute, O Agglutinins will be seen some 6-8 days following the onset of Typhoid fever. In comparison, the H Agglutinins can be seen within 12 days of the start of Typhoid fever. So, it is important to test two different specimens of the serum.
The ways to reading the report
It is quite easy to read the report. It would help if you were looking for the highest dilution of serum. After finding the highest dilution, check for any agglutination. As per the reports, if the test ends at 1:320, it is titer. If the statement reads positive, then it is Typhoid. When the ‘O’ antigen titer is more than 1:160, it is known as active infection infamously. But, if the ‘H’ antigen is higher or greater than 1:160, it suggests past infection in an immunized person. The agglutination test is helpful for varied diagnoses or differential diagnoses.
Whether you are prescribed a TSH test or Widal, it is important to ensure that the report is correct. When there is a problem with the Thyroid gland, the doctor prescribes a thyroid-stimulating hormone test.
