Abstract |
We compared an in-house Treponema pallidum IgM immunoblot (IB) with a 19S fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption ( IgM) test during routine use for the diagnosis of congenital syphilis (CS) in a national reference laboratory in a nonendemic setting. The overall agreement between the assays was high (97%), and 19S positive samples had at least 2 reactive bands in the IB. The high agreement is mainly caused by the large number of negative results (95%). If the 19S is taken as the gold standard, the estimate sensitivity of the IB was at least 88% with a specificity of 97.2%. Analysis of the discrepancies revealed that the IB was positive with 1 or 2 specific bands in 2.8% of the cases, whereas 19S was negative, possibly indicating higher sensitivity of the IB. We conclude that the IB is a sensitive method to detect contact with T. pallidum in neonates and can replace the 19S in routine laboratory screening for CS cases.
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Authors | Martina Herremans, Daan W Notermans, Mart Mommers, Laetitia M Kortbeek |
Journal | Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease
(Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis)
Vol. 59
Issue 1
Pg. 61-6
(Sep 2007)
ISSN: 0732-8893 [Print] United States |
PMID | 17662551
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Evaluation Study, Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Female
- Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody-Absorption Test
- Humans
- Immunoblotting
(methods)
- Immunoglobulin M
(analysis)
- Infant
- Infant, Newborn
- Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
- Pregnancy
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Syphilis, Congenital
(diagnosis, immunology)
- Treponema pallidum
(immunology)
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