The Weil-Felix test is a heterophile agglutination test used to diagnose rickettsial infections. It detects antibodies against certain proteus species (OX2, OX19, OXK) that cross-react with rickettsia antigens.
Disease |
Weil-Felix test |
Epidemic typhus (R. prowazekii) |
OX19 positive |
Rocky Mountain spotted fever |
OX2 & OX19 positive |
Scrub typhus |
OXK positive |