Advantages And Disadvantages Of Widal Test – Medical Science Notes – For W.B.C.S. Examination.

Advantages of Widal Test
  1. 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.
  2. When culture facilities are not available, Widal test is handy.
  3. It can detect infection caused by both Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi.
Limitations of Widal Test
  1. It is only a presumptive test and the diagnosis cannot be confirmed on the basis of Widal test alone.
  2. Test must be performed during a specified period only since tests done within 7 days of illness and after 4 weeks are usually negative.
  3. 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.
  4. Quantitative tests can take a long time to complete.
  5. The Widal test may be falsely positive in patients who have had previous vaccination or infection with S.Typhi.
  6. 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.
  7. Besides cross-reactivity with other Salmonellaspecies, the test cannot distinguish between a current infection and a previous infection or vaccination against typhoid.
  8. 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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