Neonatal congenital syphilis. Diagnosis by the absorbed fluorescent treponemal antibody (IgM) test.

Johnston, Nancy

doi:10.1136/sti.48.6.464

Cited by 21 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…FTA-ABS 19S IgM test. An older technique for the diagnosis of congenital syphilis that remains in the investigational status is the FTA-ABS 19S IgM test (1,42,92,125,139,185,186). The FTA-ABS 19S IgM test is not available in kit form, and matching the reagents to be used in the test is extremely difficult.…”

Section: Treponemal Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Laboratory diagnosis and interpretation of tests for syphilis

1995

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The lack of a method for demonstrating the presence of Treponema pallidum by growth necessitates the use of alternative methods. Traditionally, these methods are divided into direct detection methods (animal inoculation, dark-field microscopy, etc.) and serologic tests for the presence of patient antibody against T. pallidum. Serologic methods are further divided into two classes. One class, the nontreponemal tests, detects antibodies to lipoidal antigens present in either the host or T. pallidum; examples are the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory and rapid plasma reagin and tests. Reactivity in these tests generally indicates host tissue damage that may not be specific for syphilis. Because these tests are easy and inexpensive to perform, they are commonly used for screening, and with proper clinical signs they are suggestive of syphilis. The other class of test, the treponemal tests, uses specific treponemal antigens. Confirmation of infection requires a reactive treponemal test. Examples of the treponemal tests are the microhemagglutination assay for antibodies to T. pallidum and the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test. These tests are more expensive and complicated to perform than the nontreponemal tests. On the horizon are a number of direct antigen, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and PCR techniques. Several of these techniques have shown promise in clinical trials for the diagnosis of congenital syphilis and neurosyphilis that are presently difficult to diagnose.

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Section: Treponemal Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Laboratory diagnosis and interpretation of tests for syphilis

1995

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“…Unfortunately this is not true; we now know that some babies with the late onset type of congenital infection do not produce IgM class FTA antibody until they are about 3 months old (Johnston, 1972). However, if IgM class FTA antibody* is present in neonatal blood and there is no evidence of placental leakage, this can be taken as definite evidence of congenital infection, since it is well established that maternal IgM antibody does not cross the placenta.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new look at the serology of treponemal disease.

O’Neill¹

1976

Sexually Transmitted Infections

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IntroductionThe changes that have recently taken place in the serology of treponemal disease have fortunately tended to make the subject less complicated and more rational than it was in the past; the change that has contributed most of all to this simplification is the widespread adoption of specific antibody tests, in place of the older non-specific ones, in routine testing. To explain how this change has altered the serodiagnosis of treponemal infection it is necessary to discuss briefly syphilis antibodies in general and the

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“…'7 18 False-positive results have also been reported. '9 The nine cases of congenital syphilis we studied had positive results to the FTA-ABS-IgM tests and these remained positive as long as the total serum IgM was higher than normal.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%