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Sex Transm Infect 2006;82:v13-v16 doi:10.1136/sti.2006.022467
  • Rapid diagnostic tests for sexually transmitted infections

Prospective, multi-centre clinic-based evaluation of four rapid diagnostic tests for syphilis

  1. D Mabey1,
  2. R W Peeling2,
  3. R Ballard3,
  4. A S Benzaken4,
  5. E Galbán4,
  6. J Changalucha5,
  7. D Everett5,
  8. R Balira5,
  9. D Fitzgerald6,
  10. P Joseph6,
  11. S Nerette6,
  12. J Li7,
  13. H Zheng7
  1. 1London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
  2. 2World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
  3. 3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
  4. 4Fundação Alfredo da Matta, Manaus, Brasil
  5. 5National Institute for medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania
  6. 6GHESKIO Centre, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
  7. 7Peking Union Medical Collage, Beijing, China
  1. Correspondence to:
 Professor David Mabey
 London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK; david.mabey{at}lshtm.ac.uk
  • Accepted 15 September 2006

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate prospectively four rapid, point-of-care serological tests for syphilis in prenatal or high risk populations in four countries.

Methods: Tests were performed on consecutive clinic attenders, using whole blood in the clinic, and whole blood and serum in the laboratory. The sensitivity and specificity of each test was evaluated, using a standard treponemal test (Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay (TPHA) or fluorescent treponemal antibody, absorbed (FTA-ABS) as gold standard. Non-treponemal tests (rapid plasma reagin (RPR) or venereal diseases research laboratory (VDRL) tests) were also performed on all subjects at three sites.

Results: The specificity of each rapid test was >95% at each site. Sensitivities varied from 64–100% and, in most cases, were lower when whole blood was used rather than serum.

Conclusions: Rapid serological tests for syphilis are an acceptable alternative to conventional laboratory tests. Since they do not require equipment or electricity, they could increase coverage of syphilis screening, and enable treatment to be given at the first clinic visit.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: none declared

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