European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF WIDAL AGGLUTINATION TEST WITH BLOOD CULTURE TECHNIQUE IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF TYPHOID FEVER.

*Shital Sangani and Dr. Pawan Toshniwal

ABSTRACT

Typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella typhi, is endemic in the Indian sub-continent. The disease can occur in all age group with highest incidence among children. This study was performed to identify the typhoid fever, by using both blood culture technique and Widal agglutination test and compare the results obtained from both methods. Total 540 blood samples were collected during December 2017 to February 2018, from febrile patients with symptoms clinically similar to typhoid fever and visiting Zydus Medical College & Hospital, Dahod, Gujarat. Blood culture technique was used to isolate Salmonella typhi. In Widal agglutination test, slide and tube agglutination tests were done for the determination of antibody titre. An antibody titre of ≥1:80 taken as a cut of value to indicate recent infection of typhoid fever. Among 540 suspected patients studied, 114 (21.1%) cases were confirmed to be infected with Salmonella typhi from blood culture technique and 327 (60.6%) samples gave confirmed agglutination with titre more than 1/80. The study showed sensitivity of 47.4% and specificity of 11.6%, positive predictive value of 36.9% and negative predictive value of 23.2% and the efficiency 33.3% of Widal agglutination test in comparison to blood culture technique. The study showed blood culture technique remains the gold standard for diagnosis of typhoid fever. Widal agglutination test done alone either positive or negative should not be considered confirmatory for typhoid fever; it may be helpful in making a presumptive diagnosis.

Keywords: Blood culture technique, Salmonella spp., Sensitivity, Specificity, Typhoid fever, Widal agglutination test.