Widal Test (Tube Agglutination)

Understanding Widal Test (Tube Agglutination)

The Widal Test (Tube Agglutination) test named after its founder Georges Ferdinand Widal, is a serological test that helps diagnose typhoid fever. This bacterial infection typically presents symptoms within 6 to 30 days of exposure, including high fever, fatigue, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, weight loss, and a rash known as “rose spots.” These symptoms can resemble those of other diseases, making accurate diagnosis difficult without proper testing. Early diagnosis and treatment ar...

What does Widal Test (Tube Agglutination) measure?

The Widal Test (Tube Agglutination) is a blood test that helps diagnose typhoid and paratyphoid fever, collectively named enteric fever. It helps evaluate the level of antibodies produced by the body in response to Salmonella typhi/paratyphi, the bacteria causing typhoid (enteric fever). By detecting these antibodies, the test can confirm or rule out whether or not an individual has been infected with the bacteria that causes typhoid fever.