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Additional Product Information

About the VDRL Antigen Test

 

Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease, can be fatal if left untreated. Treponema pallidum (a spirochete bacteria), the causative agent of syphilis, induces the production of at least two types of antibodies in human infection. Anti-treponemal antibody can be detected by the FTA-ABS (Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Absorption) test, and the anti-nontreponemal antibody (reagin) that is detected by using the Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) test.


In 2006, 36,000 cases of syphilis were reported. Of these, 9,756 cases were of primary and secondary syphilis. This reflects an increase of 11.8% with a 13.8% rise in the number of primary and secondary syphilis cases. The data indicates that in this group, the rise was primarily among men having sex with men. From 2005 to 2006, there was a 12.4% increase for early latent syphilis and 9.9% for late and late latent syphilis.1


Direct contact with syphilis sores is the mode of transmission from one individual to another. The sores most commonly occur on the external genitals, vagina, and anus or in the rectum. They can also appear in the mouth and on the lips. Transmission occurs during vaginal, anal or oral sex. Additionally, during pregnancy, an infected mother can pass the disease on to her child; therefore, syphilis screening is a routine part of prenatal care. Untreated early syphilis during pregnancy results in perinatal death in up to 40% of cases and if acquired during the four years preceding pregnancy, may lead to infection of the fetus in 80% of cases.1 Syphilis can NOT be transmitted from swimming pools, hot tubs, bathtubs, shared clothing, eating utensils
or toilet seats.
1. CDC, 2006 Syphilis Surveillance Report

Primary Stage
  Syphilis is transmitted by individuals in either the primary or secondary stage of the disease but often these people do not even realize that they are infected. In primary syphilis the initial sign of the disease is a sore known as a chancre, a firm round, small and painless sore which appears at the site where the organism entered the body. Untreated, the disease will progress to the secondary stage.

Secondary Stage:
  This stage of the disease is characterized by a rash on one or several areas of the body. These rashes typically do not itch and can present while the initial chancre is healing or a few weeks after it has healed. The rashes typically appear on the palms of the hands and the bottom of the feet. These rashes range from difficult to see to rough, red or reddish brown spots. The rash can have a different appearance on different parts of the body and often even resemble rashes characteristic of other disease states. Other symptoms that can begin during the secondary stage are swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, fever, head ache, weight loss, fatigue, and muscle aches. Untreated, the infection will progress to the latent stage.

Late and Latent Stages:
  The patient moves into the latent stage when the primary and secondary stages have passed. This final stage of the disease can last for years with little or no observable signs and symptoms as late as 10 – 20 years following the initial infection. In this stage, signs and symptoms may include dementia, paralysis, numbness, blindness and difficulty coordinating movement. Internal organs including the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones and joints may be damaged. These complications can even result in death.

How Syphilis can affect pregnant women:
  A pregnant woman who is infected with syphilis can pass the infection on to her child. It can even result in stillbirth or death shortly after birth. An infected infant, untreated, may develop seizures, be developmentally delayed and possibly die.

How is Syphilis treated?
  A single injection of penicillin will be sufficient to cure the disease if the patient has been infected for under a year. Those who have been infected for longer than a year may need to receive additional doses of penicillin. Patients allergic to penicillin can be treated with another antibiotic. The antibiotic treatment will kill the etiological agent but any damage that has already taken place in the body, is generally not reversible.

Methodology:
  The ASI RPR (rapid plasma reagin) Card Test for syphilis is a qualitative and semiquantitative nontreponemal flocculation test for the detection of reagin (anti-nontreponemal antibody) antibodies in human serum and plasma as a screening test in syphilis serology. These materials are intended to be acquired, possessed and used only by health professionals.
03/09

VDRL Additional Product Info