A specific IgM antibodytest in neonatal congenital syphilis

Presidential Address to the M.S.S.V.D: Systemic disease and the biological false positive reaction

“…IgM antibodies are believed not to cross the placental barrier and the presence of IgM type of antitreponemal antibody in the serum of an infant is believed to indicate that the infant is responding to an infection. If the FTA-ABS test employing a specific anti-IgM conjugate is positive on the infant's serum, it is reasonable to suspect that the child is infected with syphilis and that the antibody is not due to passive transfer of antibody from the mother (Scotti and Logan, 1968;Alford, Polt, Cassady, Straumfijord, and Remington, 1969).…”

Congenital Syphilis: Immunologic Challenges

“…Detection of IgM by FTA-ABS theoreti cally should be helpful in distinguishing con genital infection since IgM is not transferred across the placenta and its production by the fetus suggests active infection [18], There was in fact considerable optimism when Scotti and Logan [19] in 1968 introduced such a test. However, in clinical studies of this antibody, falsely negative results were obtained in 20-39% of cases, and false posi tives, due to IgM-rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF), in up to 10% [20].…”

Value of serological diagnosis in congenital syphilis. Report of nine cases.

“…4 This makes their interpretation in neonates extremely difficult as the IgG antibody found in the serum of neonates is largely passively acquired through the placenta5 and does not represent the infant's own response. In 1968 Scotti and Logan4 described the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test for antitreponemal IgM antibodies (IgM-FTA-ABS).…”