title: The CSF-FTA test and the significance of blood contamination.
abstract: Although the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test has found wide application in the diagnosis of syphilis, the cerebrospinal fluid fluorescent treponemal antibody (CSF-FTA) test is still controversial in the diagnosis of neurosyphilis. We found the CSF-FTA test extremely sensitive to contamination with FTA-ABS-reactive blood at concentrations in CSF that could not be detected by visual inspection. Interpretation of a reactive test should be made with caution if red cells are present in CSF.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013587:Syphilis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial