VDRL
(Redirected from Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test)
Venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test checks for syphilis antibodies.
How is the test done?[edit | edit source]
A VDRL test can be done on blood or spinal fluid.
Screening test[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
- 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[edit | edit source]
RPR and VDRL results should have a quantitative titer reported with them (1:2, 1:4, 1:8, etc.).
False positives[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
- 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[edit | edit source]
Some individuals may maintain a low titer RPR for life despite adequate treatment (serofast).
False negatives[edit | edit source]
False negatives can also occur with this test, most often during early acute infection.
Treponemal tests[edit | edit source]
- 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.
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