A widal test is a simple and quick blood test that helps doctors to rule out or confirm the case of typhoid fever. The test is effective in diagnosing the fever even when the symptoms are mild. Typhoid is a severe fever caused by the consumption of water or food contaminated with Salmonella typhi (bacteria that contaminates the blood and intestinal tract of the patient). Most typhoid cases spread through a patient with unhygienic and unhealthy practices. In the Widal test, a person’s blood cells react with the Salmonella antigens, causing agglutination (clumping). A widal test can be booked at a very nominal price from a reliable clinical lab in India. Here is more about the Widal test.
Who should get a Widal test done?
It may take a few days or a month for an individual to experience the initial symptoms of typhoid fever after the infection. Doctors prescribe this test for many reasons, especially when a person shows the following symptoms::
- Body pain
- High fever
- Severe fatigue
- Blood in the stools
- Difficulty in paying attention
- Loss of appetite
- The anxiety, confusion, and hallucinations
Test Procedure
It is a blood test wherein a small amount of blood is taken from the patient’s body by inserting a thin needle into the vein in one of the arms. Then it is sent to a diagnostic lab for analysis. If there are antibodies present in the sample, they will react with the antiserum and agglutination of red blood cells. It is a sign that the person is infected with the Salmonella typhi.
Widal Test Results
A titer of 1.80 or above is considered positive for typhoid fever. However, doctors interpret the results in combination with the medical record and symptoms of the patients. One must keep in mind that the interpretation of test results should be done only by a doctor.
It is recommended to check the price of Widal test and then select a reliable and renowned clinical lab for getting the test done. For example, Dr B. Lal Clinical Lab is a reputed diagnostic centre that offers more than 1500+ different tests, including blood tests, liver function tests, Urinalysis, thyroid tests, KFT test cost, and more at a reasonable cost.
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