Quick answer
The Widal Test (Typhoid) costs ₹500 at Live Line Health Care. Measures antibody titres against typhoid and paratyphoid bacteria, a useful clue in prolonged fever, though one result alone does not confirm typhoid. No fasting is needed. It uses a blood sample and the report is usually ready the same day.
Also known as: Typhoid Test, Widal Agglutination, Enteric Fever Test, Salmonella Typhi Antibody, TO TH Test, Typhoid Fever Test
What is the Widal Test?
The Widal test is a long-used blood test that checks for antibodies against the O and H antigens of Salmonella Typhi and the H antigens of Salmonella Paratyphi A and B. These bacteria cause typhoid and paratyphoid fever, together called enteric fever. Your serum is mixed with the antigens at increasing dilutions, and the highest dilution that still clumps is reported as the titre, for example 1:80 or 1:160.
The test is widely available, but it has real limits, and a single Widal result does not confirm typhoid. Antibodies usually rise only towards the end of the first week, so an early sample can be negative. Where typhoid is common, healthy people may carry antibodies from past exposure, and vaccination or other infections such as malaria or dengue can also raise titres. Blood culture is the stronger test, particularly in the first week and before antibiotics. Two Widal samples taken 7 to 10 days apart showing a rising titre mean far more than one reading.
What it measures: Antibody titres against Salmonella Typhi O and H antigens and Salmonella Paratyphi AH and BH antigens.
Parameters included (4)
- Salmonella Typhi O (TO) Titre
- Salmonella Typhi H (TH) Titre
- Salmonella Paratyphi A H (AH) Titre
- Salmonella Paratyphi B H (BH) Titre
Why is this test done?
- Fever lasting about a week or longer, when typhoid is one of the possible causes
- Fever with stomach pain after outside food or unsafe drinking water
- Comparing two samples taken 7 to 10 days apart to look for a rising titre
- As an extra clue when blood culture is not available or was taken after antibiotics
When should you get tested?
- Fever that climbs step by step over several days
- Headache, tiredness and body ache
- Stomach pain with constipation or diarrhoea
- Loss of appetite and a coated tongue
How to prepare for the Widal Test
- 1This blood test needs no fasting.
- 2Count how many days you have had fever, because a sample from the first few days may be too early.
- 3Tell your doctor about any typhoid vaccine or earlier typhoid, since both can raise titres.
- 4Mention antibiotics you have recently taken, and do not start any by yourself for suspected typhoid.
- 5If a repeat is requested, use the same lab where possible so the two titres can be compared fairly.
Widal Test normal range
| Parameter | Typical reference range |
|---|---|
| How it is reported | Titres for TO, TH, AH and BH, such as 1:20, 1:40, 1:80, 1:160 or 1:320 |
| Often read as low | Below about 1:80 for O and below about 1:160 for H |
| Often read as significant | 1:80 or above for O, 1:160 or above for H, only alongside symptoms |
| Stronger evidence | A fourfold rise in titre between two samples 7 to 10 days apart |
Cut-offs differ by region and lab, and your report’s interpretation takes precedence. No single titre proves or rules out typhoid. Ranges are typical adult values and vary between labs, age and sex. Always use the range printed on your report and discuss results with your doctor.
Understanding your results
- A raised titre on one sample supports the possibility of typhoid but cannot confirm it. Your doctor weighs it with symptoms, the day of fever and other tests.
- A negative Widal in the first week does not rule out typhoid, because antibodies may not have formed. Early antibiotics can also blunt the rise.
- A high H titre with a low O titre often reflects past infection or vaccination, because H antibodies tend to last longer.
- Typhoid needs antibiotics chosen by a doctor, and resistance is common in India, so a blood culture report is valuable for picking the right medicine.
- Seek emergency care for severe stomach pain, vomiting blood, black stools or confusion during a long fever, as these can be signs of serious typhoid complications.
Health packages that include this test
The Widal Test is included in these full body checkups:
Book the Widal Test in your city
Same price at all 45 centres. Choose your city for local centres and timings.
Telangana
Widal Test – FAQs
What is the price of the Widal Test?
The Widal Test (Typhoid) costs ₹500 at Live Line Health Care, at all 45 centres and for home sample collection.
Does a positive Widal test mean I have typhoid?
Not by itself. A positive Widal can come from past exposure, vaccination or another infection, especially in areas where typhoid is common. Doctors confirm typhoid using symptoms and blood culture, or a clearly rising titre on two samples taken about a week apart.
When should the Widal test be done?
It is usually more informative from the end of the first week of fever, when antibodies start to rise. In the first few days, a blood culture is the better test. Your doctor may repeat the Widal a week later to look for change.
What Widal titre is considered positive?
Many labs in India treat 1:80 or above for O and 1:160 or above for H as significant, but cut-offs vary by region. A single number is only a clue, and a fourfold rise between two samples is more meaningful.
Widal or blood culture: which is better for typhoid?
Blood culture is the more reliable test, because it grows the bacteria and also shows which antibiotics work. Its best window is the first week, before antibiotics. Widal is simpler and quicker, but it only gives indirect evidence through antibodies.
Can the Widal test stay positive after typhoid is treated?
Yes. Antibodies can stay raised for months after recovery, so repeating the test to prove a cure is not useful and may cause needless worry. If fever returns after treatment, see your doctor, who may ask for a culture.
Does the typhoid vaccine affect the Widal test?
It can. Older injectable typhoid vaccines in particular raise antibodies that show up on a Widal test, sometimes for a long time, mainly against H antigens. Tell your doctor about any typhoid vaccination so your result can be read correctly.
Where can I get the Widal Test done?
At any of our 45 Live Line Health Care centres in 40 cities across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, including Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Warangal, Kakinada and Nellore, or book home sample collection.
Medical disclaimer: This information is for general awareness only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor to interpret your results and before starting or changing any treatment.