Table 1

Summary of patients’ laboratory test results grouped according to the diagnosis made by clinicians

Laboratory diagnosis	Total	Site of ulcer*	RPR			TPHA/TPPA			IgG+IgM ELISA combined			IgM ELISA only			Dark ground microscopy			PCR
Laboratory diagnosis	Total	Site of ulcer*	+ve	−ve	NT	+ve	−ve	NT	+ve	−ve	NT	+ve	−ve	NT	+ve	−ve	NT	+ve	−ve
*Includes sites of duplicate swabs.
NT = not tested; A = anal; O = oral; P = penile; R = rectal; V = vulval; U = unspecified.
Primary syphilis	19	A 4, O 6, P 13, R 1, U 2	17	2		18	1		16		3	4	1	14	2	8	9	18	1
Secondary syphilis	10	A 2, O 6, P 5, V 1	10			10			10			1		9		3	7	8	2
HSV	17	A 2, P 9, V 4, U 3		6	11		6	11		12	5			17		4	13		17
Not syphilis	48	A 9, O 11, P 19, R 2, V 7, U 1		23	25	1	22	25		36	12		2	46	1	11	36	1	47
Not syphilis, but history of treated syphilis	6	A 2, P 4	3	3		5	1		2	2	2	1		5		5	1		6