Advantages And Disadvantages Of Widal Test – Medical Science Notes – For W.B.C.S. Examination.
Advantages of Widal Test
- It is a rapid test for screening enteric fever in endemic areas.Continue Reading Advantages And Disadvantages Of Widal Test – Medical Science Notes – For W.B.C.S. Examination.
- When culture facilities are not available, Widal test is handy.
- It can detect infection caused by both Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi.
Limitations of Widal Test
- It is only a presumptive test and the diagnosis cannot be confirmed on the basis of Widal test alone.
- Test must be performed during a specified period only since tests done within 7 days of illness and after 4 weeks are usually negative.
- Since, low antibody titres are common in normal individuals, The Widal test should be interpreted in the light of baseline titers in a healthy local population.
- Quantitative tests can take a long time to complete.
- The Widal test may be falsely positive in patients who have had previous vaccination or infection with S.Typhi.
- False positive reaction may be common due to cross reactivity or in case of other non- Salmonella infections such as typhus, immunological disorders or chronic liver disease. Hence, more reliable methods of diagnosis such as blood culture is performed these days.
- Besides cross-reactivity with other Salmonellaspecies, the test cannot distinguish between a current infection and a previous infection or vaccination against typhoid.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that due to the various factors that can influence the results of a Widal test, it is best not to rely too much on this test.
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