Widal Test

What is the Widal test? 

Widal Test (Slide Agglutination) test helps to detect typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever, collectively called enteric fever, which is caused by the consumption of food or water contaminated by Salmonella bacteria. These microorganisms, like Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi A, B, and C cause this. Typhoid fever, or enteric fever, is an acute, life-threatening, fever-causing illness that is transmitted by the ingestion of food or water that has been contaminated with the faeces of a person who has been infected with the bacteria Salmonella typhi. In this test, the blood of an individual reacts with the Salmonella antigens on the slide and either forms agglutination (clumping) or not.

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What are the other names called for the Widal test? 

The other names are the Typhoid Test and the Enteric Fever Test.

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Which test parameters are included in the Widal test?

There is only one parameter.

What does a Widal test measure? 

Widal test analyses the titres of antibodies against the bacteria that cause enteric fever.

Typhoid and paratyphoid fever are generally acquired when you consume food or water contaminated by the faeces of an acutely infected or convalescent person recovering from the disease or a chronic carrier. Usually, the incubation period, i.e. time interval between the exposure to an infection and the appearance of the first symptoms of enteric fever, is 6–30 days. Paratyphoid fever is very similar, but it is less severe than typhoid fever.

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Widal test is a slide agglutination test to find the antibodies (agglutinins) in a blood sample against the two antigens (O & H) of the bacteria Salmonella enterica. Agglutination refers to the visibility of the clumping of particles when they have antigen and mix with their antibody in the presence of optimum conditions for the reaction of antigen and antibody. When this test is processed on a slide, it is called a "slide agglutination test," and when it is carried out in a test tube, it is called a "tube agglutination test." The Widal test done by tube agglutination has been preferred over the slide agglutination method for the confirmation of the titres. The antigens used in the test are the “H” and “O” antigens of Salmonella Typhi and the “H” antigen of S. Paratyphi.

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A Widal test should be performed after the first week of the infection. The reason is that the antibody testing against "O" and "H" antigens of Salmonella starts appearing in serum at the end of the first week of the fever. Therefore, it is advisable to perform the test with two blood samples at an interval of 7 to 10 days to demonstrate the increasing antibody titres.

What’s the normal range? 

Positive or Negative.

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Who should get a Widal test? 

It is in the early stages of the disease, symptoms include abdominal pain, fever, and a general feeling of being unwell. The initial symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses.

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As typhoid fever worsens, the symptoms often include:

• A very high fever is up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Headaches

• Usually, abdominal pain, constipation, and perhaps diarrhea later.

• A small red spot over the abdomen or on the chest (rose-colored spots)

• Loss of appetite and weakness

Other symptoms of Widal (typhoid fever) include:

• Bodyaches

• Blood in the stools

• Chills

• Severe fatigue

• Difficulty in paying attention

• The agitation, confusion, and hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real)

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Are preparations needed for the Widal test?

There is no special preparation required, and fasting is not required.

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What is the cost of a Widal test?

What is the type of sample required? 

This test requires a blood sample.

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Who performs a Widal test?

A healthcare provider, also called a phlebotomist, usually performs blood draws, including those for Widal slide agglutination tests. Any healthcare provider trained in drawing blood might perform this task. These samples are sent to the lab where a medical laboratory scientist prepares the samples and processes the tests on analysers or manually.

What should I expect during my Widal test?

You may expect to experience the following during the blood test or a blood draw:

• You have to sit comfortably on the chair, and a healthcare provider will check your arms for an easily accessible vein. This is on the inner side of your arm, on the other side of your elbow.

• Once the vein is located, they will clean and disinfect the area with an alcohol swab.

• A vacutainer needle will be inserted into the vein to draw a blood sample. This may feel like a small pinch.

• After the vacutainer needle is inserted or pricked, the required amount of blood will be collected into a test tube.

• When they have drawn enough blood for the test, they will remove the needle and hold a cotton ball or gauze on the site to stop any bleeding.

• They will apply a band-aid over the pricked site, and the blood collection is finished.

This process takes less than five minutes.

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What should I expect after my Widal test?

Once the blood is collected by the healthcare provider, the blood sample, will be sent to the laboratory for processing or testing. When the reports are ready, the healthcare provider will share the reports with you.

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What is the risk of the Widal test?

Usually, blood tests are common and don’t carry any significant risks. You may have a slight pain like an ant bite when the needle gets inserted, and a small bruise can develop there.

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When can I expect my Widal test results?

Reports are available via email or WhatsApp within 6 hours of the collection of the blood sample.

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What do the results of a Widal test mean?

Interpretations

If antibodies against Salmonella typhi are present in the patient’s serum, they will react with the respective antigen in the reagent and give visible agglutination (clumping) on the slide test.  This antibody titre is the highest dilution of the patient’s serum sample that gives a clear visual agglutination with the Widal test antigen suspensions. The titre means the serum sample will be diluted by adding 20 ul of blood serum and 80 ul of normal saline, or it is 1:160, meaning 10 ul of blood serum and 160 ul of normal saline are mixed with it, and to this, adding the O antigen and H antigen to check for the titres.

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The serum (blood) sample shows a titre of 1:80 or more for "O" antigen agglutination and 1:160 or more for "H" antigen agglutination, which indicates active infection. An increase in the titres (4-fold or more) in two blood samples that have been taken 10 days apart confirms the diagnosis. Please note that different labs may have different reference ranges for the interpretation of the Widal test.

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This interpretation of a Widal test is greatly influenced by the nature and extent of the patient’s previous contact with the typhoid antigens. This can be either due to clinical or subclinical infection with typhoid or related organisms or from the typhoid vaccination. Usually, the lesser the extent of the previous contact, the greater the usefulness of the Widal test.

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What are normal Widal test results?

Positive or Negative

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Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or may test different samples. Talk to your health care provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

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What other tests might I have along with this test?

Blood Culture.

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How do I book a Widal test at home?

Log on to www.orangehealth.in and submit your details. Our highly trained, professional, and vaccinated eMedics will be at your doorstep within 60 minutes or at the time booked by you.

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Book Widal test at home in Bangalore