Recent advances in the rapid serodiagnosis of Typhoid fever

Abstract

Recent advances in the rapid serodiagnosis of Tlphoid fever INTRODUCTION Typhoid fever remains a public health problem in most developing countries. The available conventional methods remain unsatisfactory since they are too slow to allow quick decision by the clinician. Culture method may show specificity but it lacked sensitivity and speed. It produced results within 2-7 days and cases of culture negative typhoid were well recognisedl'z. The antibody detection resr (Widal test) although widely used, lacked speed, sensitivity and specificity. For meaningful interpretation of the test, demonstration of 4 fold rise in antibody titers between acute and convalescent sera 10-14 days later was essential.