Recent observations on the serology of syphilis.

Abstract

Routine screening of 404 742 sera by the automated micro-haemagglutination assay (AMHA-TP) and the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test showed that 9848 specimens gave a reactive result to one of the three assays. Reactive results were confirmed by the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test. The possibility of false-positive results varied from 0.04-0.38% of all specimens or from 1.7-15.7% of reactive sera. The VDRL test failed to detect reactivity in 56.54% of sera from patients who had previously been infected with Treponema pallidum. The importance of routine testing by the AMHA-TP is illustrated by the detection of four patients with mesaortitis and two with active neurosyphilis among a selected group of 54 patients who had non-reactive results to the VDRL test. Testing of cerebrospinal fluid specimens by the AMHA-TP test produced more specific results than by the other two tests.

• Authors: A Luger, B Schmidt, I Spendlingwimmer, F Horn
• Journal: The British journal of venereal diseases (Br J Vener Dis) Vol. 56 Issue 1 Pg. 12-6 (Feb 1980) ISSN: 0007-134X [Print] England
• PMID: 6989443 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Bacterial

Topics

• Antibodies, Bacterial
• Autoanalysis
• Fluorescent Antibody Technique
• Hemagglutination Tests
• Humans
• Syphilis (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Syphilis Serodiagnosis (methods)
• Treponema pallidum (immunology)