Serology of the Venereal Diseases

Abstract

In addition to presenting data in graphic form on the attack rate of syphilis and gonorrhea and the incidence of and mortality from syphilis in the British Isles from 1931 to 1958, the author reviews the history of lipoidal and treponemal serologic tests for syphilis. He also presents calculations which indicate that in areas where the incidence of syphilis is very low, as many as 91% of all positive serologic reactions may be biologic false positive reactions. He concludes that combination of a lipoidal test with the Reiter protein complement fixation test provides a sensitive and specific test system of low cost which will detect the majority of cases of untreated treponemal infections. The TPI test in selected cases adds to the reliability of the laboratory findings.