Fluorescent Treponemal-Antibody Absorption Tests

Abstract

THE association of systemic diseases, particularly diseases of immunologic aberration in patients with chronic false-positive nontreponemal tests for syphilis, has repeatedly been stressed.^{1 2 3} Newer treponemal tests, particularly those employing fluorescent-antibody methods, are modifying previous diagnostic tenets and changing concepts of the false-positive reaction. The Treponema pallidum immobilization test (TPI) is less sensitive than the fluorescent treponemal-antibody absorption test (FTA-ABS) in primary, secondary and late syphilis.^{4 , 5} A number of patients, considered to have false-positive reactions on the basis of a nonreactive TPI test, have been found to have reactive FTA-ABS tests. Because of the disparity in results we have restudied our . . .