Syphilis: The confusion on the difference kind of blood tests

Topic picture 1
Dr Pom Getbutton

Soarawee Weerasopone, Andrologist

Samitivej Sriracha hospital, Thailand
We Wellness clinic, Chonburi Thailand

Royal Phnom Penh hospital, Cambodia

Syphilis is one type of sexual transmitted disease which is commonly seeing in my office. The clinical that presents it was varied from a painless genital ulcer compared to a rash at palm and sole, depend on the stage of the infections. The blood test is the only way to confirm diagnosis for the disease, but the problem is, each blood test has pros and cons. Most of patients more likely confusing on it, especially, when their test confirmed positive. And the other thing while they didn’t have a full explanation from physicians it will mislead them to seek out another second opinions or advices. In this topic, we will figure out about the difference type of the tests and how to use them wisely.

Syphilis: The confusion on the difference kind of blood tests
The only way for making syphilis diagnosis is blood test

Nontreponemal tests – it would be named as a “Screening test” for syphilis suspicious infections. More often, we use this test as a primary investigation. The pros, is the ability of the detective for an active syphilis infection which either used to trace the possibility of the treatment whether it works or not.

Common nontreponemal syphilis tests in Cambodia

  1. VDRL (Venereal disease research laboratory)
  2. RPR (Rapid plasma reagin)

Treponemal tests – it would be named as a “Confirmation tests”. If anyone got positive test from VDRL or RPR, it must do the reconfirming diagnosis with treponemal tests. The pro of this test is, it was very accuracy but unfortunately, we don’t know that the syphilis is currently in the active stage or not, that is the weak point of it.  Additionally, the treponemal test will always positive in whole your life even a completely cured were done. Therefore, we cannot rely on the tracing’s treatment outcome via the treponemal tests only. This is why the patient must be carefully and pay attention more on the explanation about this information.

Common treponemal syphilis tests in Cambodia

  1. TP-PA (Treponemal Pallidum particle agglutination)
  2. FTA-ABS (Fluorescent Treponemal antibody absorbed)
Happy doctor
Good understanding about the tests bring the best outcome and strengthen Doctor-Patient relationship

Syphilis is a common disease that very easy to get treated, but the important thing is, how to make your treatment correctly and get educated your patient properly. When the patients educated and fully understanding  about their problems and they can actually knowing how to trace the disease that currently they are in, then they will never and ever experience in the panic condition any more. So the point is, you need probably binding a good communication and relations a little stronger than before in order to get a high success treatment and cure on this kind of disease – syphilis. Have a good day.

Any questions, you can feel free to discuss with me.

Free online consultation
Disclaimer 1
Disclaimer 2
History PE Investigation
Notices
WeChat
Telegram 1
WhatsApp
Line 1

HPV PCR in urine specimen: How much the detection rate?

Today, we are going to focus on HPV PCR urine test. It has been several years practicing here in Cambodia, there’re more patients being here at my urology office were seeking some advice on Human Papilloma virus infection issue or HPV. We are all known that this viral infection can leads to the following problems.…

Gardasil 9: Does it better than the Gardasil 4?

When lots of patients in my office who asked about what the differences between these HPV vaccination, Gardasil 9 and Gardasil 4. In this article it will answer for all those questions in the details. Gardasil 9 FAQ. Which HPV subtype could have been protected from? How much efficacy rating which can be protected from…

VDRL false positive test: What are the causes of this?

VDRL test or Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test is a very common syphilis screening test which physicians currently using for all over the world. Due to an easily accessible even the patients themselves can find this either test at local laboratory nearby their home without consulting with experts before drawing blood sampling from their vein.…

Loading…

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Leave a Reply

en_USEnglish
%d bloggers like this: