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Rapid Diagnostic Tests for Syphilis. Jonathan B. Ndzi IAWG, Nairobi October 9, 2007. Magnitude of syphilis. MDGs involved. Reduce child mortality Improve maternal health Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. Laboratory Diagnosis . Blood serum for antibodies detection
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Rapid Diagnostic Tests for Syphilis Jonathan B. Ndzi IAWG, Nairobi October 9, 2007
MDGs involved • Reduce child mortality • Improve maternal health • Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Laboratory Diagnosis • Blood serum for antibodies detection • Non-specific: non-treponemal tests (lipoidal antibody) • Rapid Plasma Reagin RPR • Venereal Disease Reference Laboratory VDRL • Specific: treponemal tests • Treponema pallidum HemAgglutination assay TPHA • FTP-ABS • Treponema pallidum Particle Agglutination assay TPPA
Non-Treponemal Vs Treponemal tests Non-Treponemal • Simple, cheap • Distinguish between active and non active infections • Require electricity, refrigeration, trained personnel • Need for serum • False positives • False negatives with excess antibody (prozone effect) Treponemal • Simple • uses whole blood/ serum/ plasma • Transport at temp.<30 C • No prozone effect • Long lasting antibodies
Rapid Diagnostic Tests Advantages • No trained technical staff • No refrigeration • No electricity • Immediate results • Highly specific and sensitive • Emergencies for Antenatal screening and blood transfusion Disadvantages • No distinction between new and treated infection • Some results are not consistent with batches • False positives with other treponemes (yaws & pinta)