I started having a fever, and since then, my doctor has been prescribing antibiotics. My question is whether consuming antibiotics for the past 9 days will affect the results of the Widal test. Can positive results turn into false negatives after taking antibiotics?

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

Dr Bhanu Prakash

General Practitioner

MBBS
AFIH
Advanced certificate in critical care medicine
Fellowship in critical care medicine
10+ Yrs

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Yes, antibiotics can suppress antibody levels and cause false negative results. If needed, repeat WIDAL after stopping antibiotics. Please take a WIDAL test post antibiotic window.

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Answered 16/09/2025

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I have a fever, and my blood test report shows: S. Typhi O: 1:160 S. Typhi H: 1:320 What does this indicate, and what treatment or suggestions do you recommend?

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This is my Widal test report. S. typhi (O) is 1:40. S. typhi (H) is 1:40. S. paratyphi (AH) shows no agglutination. S. paratyphi (BH) shows no agglutination. Remark: Negative Widal test. Is this normal?

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