serologic test for syphilis
- serologic test for syphilis
- (STS) any test for serum antibodies indicative of Treponema pallidum infection. There are two types: nontreponemal antigen tests detect antibodies to substance (reagin) derived from host tissues, now known to consist of the phospholipids cardiolipin and lecithin; they originated with the Wassermann test and are now represented by the VDRL and RPR (rapid plasma reagin) tests. Treponemal antigen tests detect specific antitreponemal antibodies; they originated with the TPI (T. pallidum immobilization) test and are now represented by the DFA-TP (direct fluorescent antibody–T. pallidum) test, the FTA-ABS (fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption) test, the MHA-TP (microhemagglutination assay–T. pallidum), and assays using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) methods. The term “serologic tests for syphilis†is occasionally used with reference only to nontreponemal antigen tests.
Medical dictionary.
2011.
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test — 1. To prove; to try a substance; to determine the chemical nature of a substance by means of reagents. 2. A method of examination, as to determine the presence or absence of a definite disease or of some substance in any of the fluids, tissues,… … Medical dictionary
syphilis — /sif euh lis/, n. Pathol. a chronic infectious disease, caused by a spirochete, Treponema pallidum, usually venereal in origin but often congenital, and affecting almost any organ or tissue in the body, esp. the genitals, skin, mucous membranes,… … Universalium
syphilis test — see serologic t. for syphilis … Medical dictionary
VDRL test — A blood test for syphilis (VDRL stands for Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) that detects an antibody that is present in the bloodstream when a patient has syphilis. A negative (nonreactive) VDRL is compatible with a person not having… … Medical dictionary
blood test — noun a serologic analysis of a sample of blood • Hypernyms: ↑biopsy • Hyponyms: ↑agglutination test, ↑complement fixation test, ↑PSA blood test * * * noun : a test of the blood (as to determine parentage or ascertain the nature of an infection); … Useful english dictionary
Treponema pallidum immobilization test — Treponema pal·li·dum immobilization test pal əd əm n a serological test for syphilis in which a solution containing the living causative spirochete (Treponema pallidum) is combined with serum in the presence of complement with immobilization of… … Medical dictionary
fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test — FTA ABS test; a highly specific treponemal antigen serologic test for syphilis; patient serum is absorbed with other treponemes to remove nonspecific antibodies, then reacted with a strain of Treponema pallidum fixed to a glass slide; specific… … Medical dictionary
latent syphilis — a stage after secondary syphilis when an infected patient is free of overt symptoms but has a positive serologic test for syphilis; it may last a short time or many years and may be subdivided into early latent and late latent syphilis,… … Medical dictionary
direct fluorescent antibody–Treponema pallidum test — DFA TP test; a serologic test for syphilis that uses direct immunofluorescence … Medical dictionary
Syphilis — Classification and external resources … Wikipedia
