Index >>Prokaryotes Microbes >> Weil Felix Test

Weil Felix Test - This test is used to identify the presence of rickettsiae without specifying a particular species. A sample of patients blood is first obtained, and the clean serum is separated from the red blood cells. A sample of serum is mixed with the cells of the bacterium, Proteus Ox19. The bacteria will clump together if the serum contains antibodies against the rickekttsiae, indicating that a person has the disease or once. had it. If no clumping takes place, rickettsial antibodies are probably not present. The Weil Felix test works because rickettsiae possess antigens, also located in Proteus cells and therefore, both organisms stimulate the immune system to produce the same antibodies