Typhoid (Widal Test / Typhidot) Test

Typhoid testing, commonly performed as either a Widal test or Typhidot test, detects antibodies your immune system produces in response to infection with Salmonella typhi, the bacteria responsible for typhoid fever.

The Widal test is an older, more widely available method that measures antibody levels against specific bacterial antigens, while Typhidot is a newer, generally more specific test that can also help distinguish between IgM (recent infection) and IgG (past exposure or, in some cases, prior vaccination) antibodies.

Typhoid fever remains a significant public health concern in many parts of the world with limited access to clean water and sanitation, and it typically presents with a prolonged fever that gradually worsens over days if left untreated.

Because antibody-based tests like these can be influenced by prior typhoid vaccination or previous infections, results are always interpreted alongside a patient's symptoms and, in some cases, blood culture — which remains the most definitive diagnostic method.