title: Comparative Evaluation of Tubex TF (Inhibition Magnetic Binding Immunoassay) for Typhoid Fever in Endemic Area.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Typhoid fever remains a significant health problem in endemic countries like India. Various serological tests for the diagnosis of typhoid fever are available commercially. We assessed the usefulness of rapid test based on magnetic particle separation to detect Immunoglobulin against Salmonella typhi O9 lipopolysaccharide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of widal test, typhidot and tubex TF test for the diagnosis of typhoid fever in an endemic country like India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples collected from 50 patients of typhoid fever, 50 patients of non typhoid fever and 100 normal healthy individuals residing in Amritsar were subjected to widal test, typhidot test and tubex TF test as per manufacturer's instructions. Data collected was assessed to find sensitivity and specificity of these tests in an endemic area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant widal test results were found positive in 68% of patients of typhoid fever and only 4% of non typhoid fever patients. Typhidot (IgM or IgG) was positive in 72% of typhoid fever patients and 10% and 6% in non typhoid fever and normal healthy individuals respectively. Tubex TF showed higher sensitivity of 76% and specificity of 96-99% which was higher than typhidot and comparable to widal test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was the first evaluation of rapid tubex TF test in northern India. In countries which can afford high cost of test, tubex TF should be recommended for the diagnosis in acute stage of the disease in clinical setting. However, there is urgent need for a highly specific and sensitive test for the diagnosis of typhoid fever in clinical settings in endemic areas.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research , Punjab, India .
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khanna
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Pathology, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research , Punjab, India .
authors.forename: Menka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khanna
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Pathology, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research and Consultant Nijjer labs and Diagnostic Centre , Punjab, India .
authors.forename: Karamjit Singh
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Gill
keywords: Salmonella; Widal test