A Comparative Evaluation of Different Diagnostic Modalities in the Diagnosis of Typhoid Fever Using a Composite Reference Standard: A Tertiary Hospital Based Study in Central India

Abstract

It can be concluded that though blood culture is still the gold standard, Dot blot assay found to have high sensitivity and good specificity might be a practical alternative test for the rapid diagnosis of typhoid fever if interpreted with care particularly using a composite reference standard. Further, it is reliable, simple to perform and rapid; results being available in 1 hour when compared to 48 hours for blood culture and 18 hours for Tube Widal test.