Evaluation of Rapid Test in Comparison With Widal Test and Polymerase  Chain Reaction For Diagnosis of Typhoid Fever

Mohamed Khairy Mostafa Elnagar; Runia Fouad El�Folly; Marwa Saad Mohamed Fathi; Nadia Mohamed Elsheshtawy

Volume : VI, Issue : VII, July - 2016

Evaluation of Rapid Test in Comparison With Widal Test and Polymerase Chain Reaction For Diagnosis of Typhoid Fever

Mohamed Khairy Mostafa Elnagar, Runia Fouad El Folly, Marwa Saad Mohamed Fathi, Nadia Mohamed Elsheshtawy

Abstract :

<p>&nbsp;Typhoid fever, is a potentially fatal illness caused primarily by Salmonella typhi. The genus Salmonella contains over 2,000 sero&ndash;species. The diagnosis of typhoid fever always requires laboratory confirmation, either by isolation of the pathogen or by demonstration of specific antibodies. The PCR assays provide a rapid and highly sensitive method of differentiating the major Salmonella groups to detect all of the cases of acute disease. The current study was conducted on 30 patients that were suspected to have typhoid fever, based on history taking, clinical manifestations. All serum samples screened for Salmonella typhi antibodies by Widal test, then Rapid test and PCR. Widal test was positive in 100% of cases, while the Rapid test was positive in 83% of cases and the PCR was positive in 70% of cases. Rapid test was fast and cheap test showing higher specificity and diagnostic accuracy, while the Widal test was the cheapest test, and faster than PCR. As for the PCR method it is more sensitive and specific than culture and serology for diagnosis of typhoid fever.</p>