Comparison of Syphilis Screening Tests in Deceased Organ Donors

Update on donor-derived infections in liver transplantation

“…Typically, recipients are treated for late latent syphilis [ie, 3 doses of intramuscular penicillin G benzathine (2.4 million units)] . Donors with a positive nontreponemal syphilis serology (ie, rapid plasma reagin or Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test) should have confirmatory testing performed even if these results become available after transplantation because the rate of false positivity among organ donors is high . Confirmed positive syphilis serologies are considered a marker for risk behaviors that place the donor at an increased risk for HIV, HBV, and HCV by US Public Health Service guidelines…”