Syphilis screening (VDRL-RPR)

Syphilis (Latin: syphilis) - an infectious disease transmitted most often by sex, caused by Treponema pallidum of the family Spirochaetaceae.

The incubation period of the disease ranges from 9 days to 3 months. Syphilis is a perennial disease, periodically symptomatic or asymptomatic. During the primary infection period, ulceration may appear at the site of entry of the microorganism, in secondary syphilis there is a skin rash, mucocutaneous lesions and enlargement of lymph nodes. At the tertiary syphilis stage, there are heart and eye symptoms, hearing disorders.

Infection in the latent - asymptomatic stage is detected by serological testing. Direct diagnosis is based on the detection of bacteria in biological material, indirect diagnosis is based on serological tests detecting antibodies to the antigens of the pale spirochete.

Direct diagnosis is based on the detection of antibodies to the antigens of the pale spirochete.

Classical tests so-called flocculation tests:

• Wasserman test,
• VDRL test (Veneral Disease Research Laboratory),
• and USR (Unheated Serum Reagin.

The tests detect IgG and IgM anti-lipid antibodies. The sensitivity of these tests varies, depending on the period of the disease. Antibodies detected in these tests can also appear in the course of other diseases, such as infections with other spirochetes, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatic diseases or collagenoses.

The antibodies detected in these tests can also appear in the course of other diseases, such as infections with other spirochetes, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatic diseases or collagenoses

For example, Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody (FTA), Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Absorbtion Test (FTA-ABS), Western blot tests have higher sensitivity and specificity. Diagnosis of syphilis infection is critical in detecting the disease and preventing its progression.