VDRL

Venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test checks for syphilis antibodies.

How is the test done?

A VDRL test can be done on blood or spinal fluid.

Screening test

Since VDRL test is only a screening test, if a screening test comes back positive, you will need more testing to rule out or confirm a syphilis diagnosis.

Other tests

• Non-treponemal tests, also called screening tests (RPR or Rapid Plasma Reagin test and VDRL), do not detect antibodies specific for syphilis.
• Instead, they are based upon the reactivity of serum from infected patients to a cardiolipin-cholesterol lecithin antigen.

Quantitative tests

RPR and VDRL results should have a quantitative titer reported with them (1:2, 1:4, 1:8, etc.).

False positives

A reactive RPR must also have a reactive treponemal test to be considered a case of syphilis as false positives are possible.

Post treatment titers

• Changes in titer are followed after treatment to detect a therapeutic response and to assess for new infection.
• With adequate treatment, most individuals will return to a non-reactive RPR.

Serofast patients

Some individuals may maintain a low titer RPR for life despite adequate treatment (serofast).

False negatives

False negatives can also occur with this test, most often during early acute infection.

Treponemal tests

• Treponemal tests, also called confirmatory tests (FTA, TP-PA, EIA), detect antibodies specific to syphilis.
• Treponemal antibodies will appear earlier after acute infection than non-treponemal antibodies.
• The antibodies detected in these tests usually remain detectable for life even after successful treatment.
• Thus, a reactive treponemal test can indicate current or past syphilis infection.

VDRL Resources
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