VDRL test

VDRL test is a blood test for syphilis that was developed by the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory, a group that now is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The VDRL test checks blood or other body fluids to find out if you have syphilis. It looks for antibodies that are produced by the body in response to the infection.

Procedure

The VDRL test is performed by drawing blood from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The site is cleaned with germ-killing medicine (antiseptic). The health care provider wraps an elastic band around the upper arm to apply pressure to the area and make the vein swell with blood. The blood sample is sent to a laboratory for examination under a microscope.

Uses

The VDRL test is used to screen for syphilis (it has high sensitivity), whereas other, more specific tests are used to diagnose the disease. The VDRL test might give false-positive results if you have one of several other diseases, including leprosy, malaria, lupus, pneumonia, or tuberculosis.

Limitations

The VDRL test can sometimes give a false positive result, meaning the test indicates you have syphilis when you actually do not. This can happen if you have a condition that produces antibodies similar to the ones produced during a syphilis infection.

See also

• Rapid plasma reagin
• Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay
• Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay

References

VDRL test Resources
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