The FTA-ABS Test in Late Syphilis

Fluorescent treponemal antibody-cerebrospinal fluid (FTA-CSF) test. A provisional technique.

“…Although it is said that the incidence of neurosyphilis is declining, the continuing clinical importance of the late complications is attested to by the number of papers published over the last few years (Harner, Smith, and Israel, 1968;Dewhurst, 1968;Ley and Kridde, 1968;Joffe, Black, and Floyd, 1968;Dewhurst, 1969;Forstrom and Lassus, 1969;Aho, Sievers, and Salo, 1969;Starzycki, Mayer, Huczynski, and Rataj, 1970 Deacon, Falcone and Harris (1957).…”

Diagnosis of neurosyphilis by examination of the cerebrospinal fluid.

“…The presence of pleocytosis, raised protein concentrations (Dattner-Thomas formula),' and a reactive Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test result have for many years been taken as indications of active disease.2 CSF reagin tests, like the VDRL, may give nonreactive results in up to 30% of patients with neurosyphilis. 4 Other workers5 have found a reactive CSF-VDRL test result in only 56-7% of 176 patients with neurosyphilis. Therefore, the CSF-VDRL test is of very low diagnostic value.…”

Syphilis: Review with Emphasis on Clinical, Epidemiologic, and Some Biologic Features

“…Treponemal tests include the serum fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test (FTA-ABS) and the microhemagglutination test for T. pallidum (MHA-TP), which use lyophilized T. pallidum or a lysate of pathogenic T. pallidum, respectively (66,133,158,291). These tests have higher sensitivity and specificity than the nontreponemal tests and are used as confirmatory tests for syphilis after a reactive nontreponemal test has been reported.…”