Paper Title
Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Widal Test And Typhidot Rapid Test In The Diagnosis Of Typhoid Fever In Akwa Ibom State University Medical Centre, Nigeria

Abstract
Background: Typhoid fever is a major health problem in developing countries. An accurate diagnosis based on clinical signs and symptoms alone is difficult. In some areas where there is high incidence, bacterial isolation facilities for definitive diagnosis are often not available, so Widal test and rapid test (Typhidot Combo) are used as the diagnostic tools. However, the efficiency and accuracy of these test for diagnosis of typhoid fever has been debatable. The aim is to study the specificity and sensitivity pattern of Widal test and Typhidot Combo rapid test in the diagnosis of typhoid fever. Methods: A total of 372blood samples were collected from students attending the Medical Centre for one illness or the other. Using Widal test kits and Typhidot Combo Rapid identification method for detection of the presence of Salmonella antibodies, IgG and IgM. Results: Out of the 372 Students screened 120 (32.4%) with a titre value of 1:160 and above were significant and 72 (19.4%) of the students were positive to Typhidot IgG/IgM Salmonella typhi with IgG 44 (61%) positive and 28 (39.9%) to IgM. Widal tube agglutination test shows a high sensitivity but low specificity to Salmonella antibodies. Typhidot IgG/IgM Combo is a new and reliable serodiagnostic test with significantly higher sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: Typhidot IgG/IgM is a practical alternative to Widal test in the diagnosis of typhoid fever on account of its increased sensitivity, early detection of cases and ease of procedure with minimal infrastructure and availability of results on the same day. Keywords - Typhoid fever, Salmonella typhi, Widal, Typhidot Combo, Akwa Ibom State University.