DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i03.017

Pages: 941-944

Context: Enteric fever is potentially life threatening systemic infection occurring in lesser developed areas of the world and continues to be a major public health problem. We have evaluated the rapid point of care Typhoid IgM/IgG test as compared to blood culture in rapid and early diagnosis of enteric fever. Material and methods: A total of 70 patients with febrile illness were evaluated and tested with Typhoid IgM/IgG test and blood culture. The patients were divided into two groups: Gp I included 40 patients with likely clinical diagnosis of enteric fever and GpII comprised 30 patients with other laboratory confirmed illnesses were taken as control. We have in addition evaluated the significance of Typhoid IgM/IgG test in blood culture negative patients. Results: The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of Typhoid IgM/IgG test considering blood culture as gold standard was 92.5%, 93.33%, 97.40% and 87.83% respectively. Among blood culture negative patients, rapid Typhoid IgM/IgG test detected 93.33% additional cases of enteric fever.