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What is the Typhidot Test?
A Typhidot Test is a screening test for typhoid fever performed using a blood sample. Typhoid fever, also called enteric fever, is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi. Typhoid fever is one of the most common bacterial infections in low-income nations, including India.Â
The Typhidot Test evaluates the presence of immunoglobulin M (IgM) in the blood. It can thus indicate the presence or absence of the Salmonella species in the blood.Â
The Typhidot test is easy to perform and does not require any special equipment training for the staff. Besides, the results are also easy to interpret. Hence, the Typhidot Test can be useful as a complementary test to the Widal test and blood culture in diagnosing typhoid fever.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the Typhidot Test used for?
Typhidot test is a rapid serological test used to detect the presence of the bacteria Salmonella typhi in the blood. This microorganism causes typhoid fever.
Understanding the test results of the Typhidot Test
The Typhidot Test is a dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that can detect antibodies IgG and IgM in the human body. The body produces these antibodies against the bacteria's outer membrane protein (OMP). The test becomes positive within two to three days of Salmonella infection. It indicates the presence of IgG and IgM in the blood.
Why do I need a Typhidot Test?
You may need a Typhidot Test if your physician suspects the presence of typhoid fever. They may also prescribe this test if you have recently travelled to areas with a high prevalence of typhoid fever. The symptoms of typhoid fever include:Â
- Persistent high temperature, which increases gradually by day
- CoughÂ
- Extreme tirednessÂ
- ConstipationÂ
- Excessive sweating
- Loss of appetiteÂ
- Body pain
- Headache
What happens during the Typhidot Test?
The Typhidot Test requires blood, urine, stool, or bone marrow samples. The lab personnel use the usual venipuncture method to collect the blood sample. They collect the patient's blood from the veins in the upper arm using a small needle. You don't need to fast before the test.Â
The bone marrow aspiration is the most accurate method for typhoid testing. But it is both time-consuming and painful for the patient. Hence, it is the least preferred method.
What if Typhidot is positive?
If the results of the Typhidot Test are positive, it indicates that the person has an infection of the Salmonella species.
How do you read a Typhidot test?
If IgG and IgM are present in the typhoid test, it indicates acute typhoid fever. If IgM only is present, it means you have acute typhoid fever. If there is only IgG and IgM is negative, it refers to a past Salmonella infection.
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When should the typhoid test be done?
The results of the typhoid blood tests are the most accurate when performed within a week of symptom onset.
Is a blood test necessary for typhoid?
Blood culture tests are considered the gold standard for diagnosing typhoid fever, and the results are most accurate within a week of symptom onset.
Which is better: Widal or Typhidot?
The sensitivity and specificity of the Widal Test on blood cultures is 53% and 83%, respectively. In contrast, the Typhidot Test on blood cultures has a sensitivity and specificity of 93% and 83%, respectively. Hence, the Typhidot Test has higher sensitivity compared to the Widal Test.
Is the Typhidot Test reliable?
Yes, the Typhidot Test has a positive predictive value of 95%, which is higher than the Widal Test's positive predictive value of 87%.
How accurate is Typhidot?
The Typhidot Test is associated with a sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of 93%, 83%, and 95%, respectively. So, it is highly accurate.
The positive predictive value is the diagnostic test's performance during the development. It indicates that about 95% of the participants tested during the research had positive tests due to the disease.
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