Intended Use

 The Typhoid IgG/IgM Rapid Test is a lateral flow immunoassay for the simultaneous detection and differentiation of anti-Salmonella typhi (S. typhi)G and IgM in human serum or plasma. It is intended to be used as a screening test and as an aid in the  diagnosis of infection with S. typhi. Any reactive specimen with the  Typhoid IgG/IgM 2.0 Rapid Test must be confirmed with alternative testing method(s).

Summary and Explanation of  the Test

 Typhoid fever is caused by S. typhi, a Gram-negative bacterium. World-wide an estimated 17 million cases and 600,000 associated deaths occur annually¹. Patients who are infected with HIV are at significantly increased risk of clinical infection with S. typhi². Evidence of H. pylori infection also presents an increase risk of acquiring typhoid fever. 1-5% of patients become chronic carrier harboring S. typhi in the gallbladder.

 
The clinical diagnosis of typhoid fever depends on the isolation of S. typhi from blood, bone marrow or a specific anatomic lesion. In the facilities that can not afford to perform this complicated and time-consuming procedure, Filix-Widal test is used to facilitate the diagnosis. However, many limitations lead to difficulties in the   interpretation of the Widal test^3,4.

                                      
In contrast, the  Typhoid IgG/IgM Rapid Test is a simple and rapid laboratory test. The test simultaneously detects and differentiates the IgG and the IgM antibodies to S. typhi specific antigen⁵ thus to aid in the determination of current or previous exposure to the S. typhi.

Test Principle

The Typhoid IgG/IgM Rapid Test is a lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay. The test cassette consists of: 1) a burgundy colored conjugate pad containing recombinant S. typhoid H antigen and O antigen conjugated with colloid gold (Typhoid conjugates) and rabbit IgG-gold conjugates, 2) a nitrocellulose membrane strip containing two test bands (M and G bands) and a control band (C band). The M band is pre-coated with monoclonal anti-human IgM for the detection of IgM anti-S. typhi, G band is pre-coated with reagent for the detection of IgG anti-S. typhi , and the C band is pre-coated with goat anti rabbit IgG.

 When an adequate volume of test specimen is dispensed into the sample well of the cassette, the test specimen migrates by capillary action across the test cassette.  Anti-S. typhi IgM if present in the patient specimen will bind to the Typhoid conjugates. The immunocomplex is then captured on the membrane by the pre-coated anti-human IgM antibody, forming a burgundy colored M band, indicating a S. typhi IgM positive test result.