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Reliable, Specific Syphilis Tests

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DoctorQuestion
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Reliable, Specific Syphilis Tests
Posted: 08-17-06 10:41am

Hi! I have the following question.

Is a negative VDRL blood test for syphilis after 2 years and 1 month of possible infection absolutely reliable?

I mean, is there any chance that the result is false negative?

Should I do anything else, or forget it and relax?

I know that VDRL test screens for antibodies made by organism in order to confront Treponema Pallidum and that 2 years are too much time for the body to develop antibodies.

However, my real concern is what I read at the following site:
[url]http://adam.about.com/encyclopedia/00 3515.htm?terms=false+positive+for+syphilis [/url]

''in the final stages (tertiary syphilis) this test is usually positive in only 60% of cases''.

I wonder if I am in the final stage without knowing it and if I am among these 40% of cases where the result is false negative, how could I find out safely if I have syphilis or not?

Thank you for your help!


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DoctorAnswer
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Sexually Transmitted Diseases Answer A1358
Posted: 08-22-06 09:54am

If you were in the final stage of syphilis you wouldn’t be able to write this letter. In the final stadium (IV) of syphilis (metalues), patients become paralyzed and are in very bad condition. You can request syphilis tests that are more specific than VDRL such as: TPHA, FTA or TPI –tests.


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