Typhoid fever is one of the most common causes of prolonged fever in Pakistan, and the test your doctor orders, and what it costs, depends on which method the laboratory uses. This guide compares typhoid test prices at the major laboratories in Pakistan, including the Widal test, Typhidot (Typhi Dot) antibody tests, blood cultures and typhoid PCR, so you can see the options side by side before you book.
All prices below are the prices listed in November 2026 on each laboratory’s own test list page on this site, except for Chughtai Lab, where the official Chughtai rate is used (see the note under the table). Prices may vary by branch or city, so confirm the current charge with the laboratory before your visit. For other test comparisons, see our Lipid Profile Price in Pakistan, LFT Test Price in Pakistan and HbA1c Test Price in Pakistan guides.
Typhoid Test Price Comparison in Pakistan
Typhoid is not a single test: laboratories offer different tests that look for the infection in different ways, and each is priced separately. The table below keeps every test type separate, exactly as named by the laboratory, because a Widal test and a blood culture are not interchangeable.
| Laboratory | Test (as listed) | Price (PKR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dow Lab | Blood Culture (Special Panel) | 750 | Special panel variant, as listed |
| Alnoor Diagnostic Centre | Widal Test | 1,450 | Antibody test |
| Dow Lab | Blood Culture Bact/Alert (Aerobic) | 1,500 | Automated blood culture, aerobic bottle |
| Islamabad Diagnostic Centre (IDC) | TYPHIDOT | 1,750 | Typhidot antibody test |
| Alnoor Diagnostic Centre | Blood for C/S (Single Bottle) | 2,000 | Blood culture and sensitivity, single bottle |
| Ibn-E-Sina Clinical Laboratory | Typhi Dot IgG & IgM | 2,000 | Typhidot-type antibody test (IgG and IgM) |
| Dow Lab | Blood Culture Bact/Alert (Aerobic & Anaerobic) | 2,190 | Automated blood culture, two bottles |
| Alnoor Diagnostic Centre | Blood for C/S | 2,350 | Blood culture and sensitivity |
| Alnoor Diagnostic Centre | Blood for C/S (Aerobic) | 2,350 | Blood culture and sensitivity, aerobic |
| Dr. Essa Laboratory | Culture And Sensivity (Blood) | 2,400 | Blood culture and sensitivity |
| Dr. Essa Laboratory | Culture And Sensivity (Blood) Manual | 2,400 | Manual blood culture and sensitivity |
| Chughtai Lab | Blood for C/S (Single Bottle) Aerobic | 3,500 | Official Chughtai rate; site list shows 2,700 |
| Islamabad Diagnostic Centre (IDC) | Blood Culture | 3,650 | Blood culture |
| Chughtai Lab | Blood for C/S (Aerobic & Anaerobic Two Bottles) | 6,500 | Official Chughtai rate; site list shows 5,000 |
| Chughtai Lab | Typhoid PCR with Culture | 10,900 | Official Chughtai rate only; not on the site’s Chughtai list page |
| Aga Khan University Hospital | Typhoid tests | Price not publicly listed – confirm with the hospital | No individual price publicly listed |
Note on Chughtai Lab prices: Chughtai’s official website (chughtailab.com/tests) lists Blood for C/S (Single Bottle) Aerobic at PKR 3,500 and Blood for C/S (Aerobic & Anaerobic Two Bottles) at PKR 6,500, while this site’s Chughtai list page shows PKR 2,700 and PKR 5,000 for the same tests. The official rates are used in the table above. The Typhoid PCR with Culture price of PKR 10,900 is also taken from Chughtai’s official website, as it does not appear on this site’s Chughtai list page. No Widal or Typhidot test was found on Chughtai’s official test search. Khan Lab is not included in the table because no typhoid test entry (Widal, Typhidot, blood culture or typhoid PCR) was found on its list page.
Full laboratory price lists: Chughtai Lab test list, Dr. Essa Lab test list, IDC test list, Dow Lab test list, Ibn-E-Sina test list, Alnoor Diagnostic Centre test list, Khan Lab test list.
Typhoid Test Prices at a Glance
Across the priced entries in the table, typhoid tests in Pakistan range from PKR 750 to PKR 10,900. The lowest listed price is Dow Lab’s Blood Culture (Special Panel) at PKR 750, while the highest is Chughtai Lab’s Typhoid PCR with Culture at PKR 10,900. The only Widal test found is at Alnoor Diagnostic Centre (PKR 1,450). Typhidot-type antibody tests cost PKR 1,750 at IDC and PKR 2,000 at Ibn-E-Sina. Blood culture prices mostly fall between PKR 1,500 and PKR 6,500, depending on the laboratory and whether one or two bottles are used. Because the tests measure different things, the cheapest option is not always the right one, the choice depends on your symptoms, how long you have had a fever, and your doctor’s advice.
What Is a Typhoid Test?
Typhoid fever is caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi, usually spread through contaminated food or water. A typhoid test is a laboratory test that helps a doctor find out whether this bacterium is causing a patient’s fever. Doctors usually order a typhoid test when a patient has a fever that has lasted several days, especially with symptoms such as headache, stomach pain, weakness, loss of appetite or a coated tongue, and when other common causes of fever have been considered. The test is done on a blood sample in most cases, and the laboratory looks either for the bacteria itself or for antibodies, the body’s immune response, against it.
Widal vs Typhidot vs Blood Culture: What Is the Difference?
Widal test: The Widal test is an older antibody test. It measures antibodies in the blood that react with Salmonella Typhi. It is widely available and inexpensive, but it has a well-known drawback: it can stay positive because of a past infection or past typhoid vaccination, so a positive result does not always mean a current infection. Doctors therefore read Widal results together with the patient’s symptoms and history.
Typhidot (Typhi Dot) test: The Typhidot test also looks for antibodies, but it reports them separately as IgM and IgG. IgM antibodies usually appear early in an infection, while IgG antibodies tend to appear later or after a previous infection. This split can help a doctor judge whether an infection is recent, although, like the Widal test, it is an antibody test and not direct proof of the bacteria.
Blood culture: A blood culture tries to grow the bacteria itself from a blood sample. If Salmonella Typhi grows, the diagnosis is confirmed, and the laboratory can also test which antibiotics work against it (this is the “sensitivity” part of a culture and sensitivity test). Blood culture is usually most useful in the first week of fever, before antibiotics have been started, because antibiotics can make it harder to grow the bacteria. It takes longer than an antibody test, since the bacteria need time to grow.
Typhoid PCR: A PCR test looks for the genetic material of the bacteria. It is faster than culture and can be useful when culture is negative but typhoid is still suspected, but it is considerably more expensive, as the Chughtai price above shows.
Which test to take, and how to read the result, is your doctor’s decision. Fever timing matters: a test that is very useful in the first few days of fever may be less useful later, and an antibody test may be misleading after a previous infection or vaccination. Always discuss your symptoms, fever duration and any antibiotics you have already taken with your doctor before choosing a test.
When Do Doctors Order a Typhoid Test?
Doctors commonly order a typhoid test for a fever that lasts more than a few days without a clear cause, for fever with abdominal symptoms, or when typhoid is suspected after travel to, or residence in, an area where typhoid is common. A blood culture is often preferred early in the illness, while antibody tests such as Widal or Typhidot may be used when the fever has already lasted a week or more, or when culture is not available. If a first test is negative but the fever continues, your doctor may repeat testing or order a different type of test.
How to Prepare for a Typhoid Test
No special preparation is usually needed for a typhoid blood test, and fasting is not generally required. This is general information only, always follow your doctor’s or laboratory’s instructions. It is important to tell the laboratory if you have already started antibiotics, because this can affect blood culture results, and to mention any recent typhoid vaccination, which can affect antibody test results. A blood sample is taken from a vein in the arm, and for a blood culture the sample should ideally be collected before antibiotics are started, where possible.
Typhoid Test Results: General Reference
There is no single numerical reference range for typhoid tests, because the tests report different kinds of results. A blood culture result is reported as positive (bacteria grown) or negative (no growth), together with antibiotic sensitivity results if bacteria are found. A Widal test is usually reported as titres, for example, a titre of 1:160 or higher is often treated as significant, but the cut-off varies between laboratories. A Typhidot test is reported as IgM positive or negative and IgG positive or negative, which the doctor interprets together. Reference values and cut-offs vary between laboratories, and results must always be interpreted by a doctor in light of your symptoms, fever duration, vaccination history and other tests. A negative test does not always rule out typhoid, especially if the sample was taken very early or after antibiotics.
Typhoid Test Reports
Report availability depends on the test type: antibody tests such as Widal and Typhidot are usually reported sooner, while blood cultures take longer because the bacteria need time to grow, and a final sensitivity report may follow a preliminary result. This site does not publish per-laboratory report times, so confirm the expected timing with the laboratory when you book. If you were tested at Chughtai Lab or Dr. Essa Lab, you can check your report online through the Chughtai Lab online reports page and the Dr. Essa Lab online reports page.
How to Choose a Lab for a Typhoid Test
Start with the test your doctor has recommended, then compare the laboratories that offer that exact test, a Widal price cannot be compared with a blood culture price, because they are different tests. Consider the laboratory’s location and sample collection options, how quickly you need the result, and whether you may need a follow-up test. Prices vary considerably, as the table shows, but accuracy, proper sample handling and clear reporting matter as much as cost. No single laboratory is best for every patient; the right choice depends on the test ordered, your location and your doctor’s guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the price of a typhoid test in Pakistan?
Typhoid test prices listed in November 2026 range from PKR 750 to PKR 10,900, depending on the test type and laboratory. A Widal test costs PKR 1,450 at Alnoor Diagnostic Centre, Typhidot-type tests cost PKR 1,750 at IDC and PKR 2,000 at Ibn-E-Sina, and blood cultures range from PKR 750 to PKR 6,500. Chughtai Lab’s Typhoid PCR with Culture is listed at PKR 10,900.
Which is better, Widal or Typhidot?
Neither test is universally better. The Widal test is older and cheaper, but it can stay positive after a past infection or vaccination. Typhidot separates IgM and IgG antibodies, which can help a doctor judge whether an infection is recent. Which test suits you depends on your fever duration and history, and it is your doctor’s decision.
Is blood culture the most accurate typhoid test?
Blood culture is often considered the most confirmatory test because it detects the bacteria itself and shows which antibiotics work against it. However, it is most useful in the first week of fever and before antibiotics are started, and it takes longer to report than antibody tests.
Do I need to fast before a typhoid test?
Fasting is not generally required for a typhoid blood test. This is general information only; follow your doctor’s or laboratory’s instructions, and tell them about any antibiotics you have taken or any recent typhoid vaccination.
Why is there no Khan Lab price in the table?
No typhoid test entry, Widal, Typhidot, blood culture or typhoid PCR, was found on Khan Lab’s test list page, so Khan Lab is not included in the price table. Similarly, Aga Khan University Hospital does not publicly list individual test prices, so its price is shown as “Price not publicly listed, confirm with the hospital.”
AllLabTests.com is an independent information guide and is not affiliated with Chughtai Lab, Dr. Essa Laboratory, IDC, Dow Lab, Ibn-E-Sina Clinical Laboratory, Alnoor Diagnostic Centre, Khan Lab or Aga Khan University Hospital. Prices are based on the laboratories’ list pages and Chughtai Lab’s official website as listed in November 2026 and may change or vary by branch or city. This article is for general information only and is not medical advice; consult a doctor for diagnosis, test selection and interpretation of results.
