Question

There are two major categories of tests used to identify syphilis in the laboratory. Name those two categories and describe the key differences in the clinical relevance (use) of the methods?

Answer 1

a sexually transmitted infection that is caused by Treponema pallidum a bacteria, and the sign and symptoms are based on the four stages that are primary, secondary, latent and tertiary.

a well known sexually transmitted disease that is curable when proper treatment is given on the time, the mode of transmission of this bacteria is from sexual contact between infected partners and also from mother to the baby during childbirth or during gestation.

it can be detected by two tests that are Treponema test and the Nontreponemal test, treponema test is called VDRL and the nontreponemal test is called RPR.

TWO MAJOR TEST THAT IS USED TO IDENTIFY SYPHILIS ARE:

1. VDRL ---- VENERAL DISEASE RESEARCH LABORATORY TEST

THE BLOOD AND THE SPINAL FLUID ARE CHECKED TO DETECT ANTIBODIES MAINLY FOUND IN PEOPLE WITH SYPHILIS. THIS ANTIBODY IS NOT FOUND IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS NOT HAVING SYPHILIS AND ALSO AT THE PRIMARY PHASE OF SYPHILIS IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE DETECTED, IT GET DETECTED MAINLY DURING SECONDARY AND TERTIARY PHASE OF SYPHILIS INFECTION.

2. RAPID PLASMA REAGIN

IT INDICATES THE NON SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES IN THE BLOOD OF THE INDIVIDUAL INFECTED WITH SYPHILIS, THIS TEST ALSO CALLED NON-TREPONEMAL TEST AND IT IS THE RAPID TEST THAT CAN BE PERFORMED WITHOUT USE OF MICROSCOPE. IT IS NOT USED TO DETECT THE ANTIBODIES THAT IS PRODUCED IS DUE TO SYPHILIS.

   KEY DIFFERENCES IN THE CLINICA RELEVANCE(use) OF THE METHODS.

VDRL

1. IT REQUIRES A MICROSCOPE TO PERFORM THE PROCEDURE

2. IT ALSO REQUIRES BLOOD AND SPECIMEN TO PERFORM THE TEST, AND THE ONLY TEST THAT CAN ALSO BE PERFORMED WITH CEREBROSPINAL FLUID.

3. SPECIMEN HAS TO HEATED BEFORE TEST.

4. A FRESHLY COLLECTED SAMPLE IS REQUIRED.

5. IT IS NOT EFFECTIVE AS NON-TREPONEMAL TEST.

6. IT MEASURES THE ANTIBODIES REACTION PRODUCED IN RESPONSE TO SYPHILIS.

7. IT CAN HAVE FALSE POSITIVE RESULT DUE TO PRESENCE OF OTHER BACTERIAS.

8. A POSITIVE RESULT REQUIRES FURTHER TEST.

9. IT IS DONE TO CONFIRM THE PRESENCE OF ANTIBODIES DUE TO SYPHILIS.

10. IT CAN ONLY BE PERFORMED IN THE LABORATORIES.

RAPID PLASMA REAGIN

1. IT DOESNT REQUIRE A MICROSCOPE TO PERFORM THE TEST.

2. IT ALSO REQUIRES BLOOD AND SPECIMEN TO PERFORM THE TEST, BUT CSF CANNOT BE USED LIKE VDRL.

3. NO HEATING OF SPECIMEN IS REQUIRED BEFORE TEST.

4. A FRESHLY COLLECTED SPECIMEN IS NOT NEEDED IN RPR.

5. IT IS EFFECTIVE TEST THAN TREPONEMAL TEST, IT DETECTS SYPHILIS MORE EASILY THAN VDRL.

6. IT DOESNT MEASURE THE SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES IN RESPONSE TO TREPONEMA PALLIDUM.

7. IT CAN ALSO GIVE THE FALSE POSITIVE RESULT AS VDRL.

8. IF IT GIVES POSITIVE RESULT IT REQUIRES FURTHER TEST, THAT IS TREPONEMA TEST.

9. IT CAN BE PERFORMED WITH THE READY MADE KIT AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET.