I'm trying to understand the differences between the typhoid IgG IgM test and the Widal test. Can one of these tests detect typhoid better than the other? I'm not sure which test is more reliable or if there's any specific situation where one might be preferred. Could you explain this to me?
The Typhoid IgGIgM test is a serological test that detects the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies against Salmonella Typhi in the blood, indicating acute or past typhoid infection, respectively; this test is more sensitive and specific than the traditional Widal test, which detects agglutinating antibodies, and can be used as a replacement or complementary test, especially in the early stages of infection or in immunocompromised patients; both tests can detect typhoid, but the Typhoid IgGIgM test is preferred due to its higher accuracy and ability to distinguish between acute and past infections.