Syphilis

Also known as: Venereal disease research laboratory; VDRL; Rapid plasma reagin; RPR; Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test; FTA-ABS; Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay; TPPA; Microhemagglutination assay; MHA-TP; Darkfield microscopy

Formal name: Syphilis detection test

Related tests: Hepatitis C; HIV antibody test

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NOTE: This article is based on research that utilizes the sources cited here as well as the collective experience of the Lab Tests Online Editorial Review Board. This article is periodically reviewed by the Editorial Board and may be updated as a result of the review. Any new sources cited will be added to the list and distinguished from the original sources used.

Sources Used in Current Review

Wu, A. (2006). Tietz Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests, Fourth Edition. Saunders Elsevier, St. Louis, Missouri. Pp 1612-1614.

ARUP Consult. Syphilis Testing Algorithm. PDF available for download at http://search.arupconsult.com/search/ through http://search.arupconsult.com. Accessed June 2009.

ARUP Consult. Treponema pallidum – Syphilis. Available online at http://www.arupconsult.com/Topics/InfectiousDz/Bacteria/Syphilis.html through http://www.arupconsult.com. Accessed June 2009.

MedlinePlus Medical Encylopedia: Syphilis. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001327.htm. Accessed June 2009.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Syphilis Fact Sheet. Available online at http://www.cdc.gov/std/Syphilis/STDFact-Syphilis.htm through http://www.cdc.gov. Accessed June 2009.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. STD surveillance, 2007. Available online at http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats07/syphilis.htm through http://www.cdc.gov. Accessed August 2009.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Syphilis Infection in Pregnancy: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Reaffirmation Recommendation Statement. Annals of Internal Medicine 19 May 2009, Volume 150, Issue 10, Pp 705-709.

MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: VRDL. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003515.htm. Accessed June 2009.

MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: FTA-ABS. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003512.htm. Accessed June 2009.

MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: RPR. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003533.htm. Accessed June 2009.

WebMD. Syphilis Tests. Available online at http://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/syphilis-tests through http://www.webmd.com. Accessed June 2009.

Sources Used in Previous Reviews

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: Syphilis. Available online at http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/stdsyph.htm through http://www.niaid.nih.gov.

Centers for Disease Control: Syphilis Fact Sheet. Available online at http://www.cdc.gov/std/Syphilis/STDFact-Syphilis.htm through http://www.cdc.gov.

American Social Health Association: Syphilis Fast Facts. Available online at http://www.ashastd.org/learn/learn_syphilis_facts.cfm through http://www.ashastd.org.