High-titer positive nontreponemal tests with negative specific treponemal serology in patients with HIV infection and/or intravenous substance use.
Nontreponemal testing is a valuable tool in screening for syphilis. False-positive reactions are uncommon and are usually at a titer less than 1:8. We describe eight intravenous substance abusers and/or HIV-positive patients with high-titer (greater than or equal to 1:16) nontreponemal and negative treponemal serologies in whom the diagnosis of syphilis is unproven and possibly false.
Glatt
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AE
Division of Infectious Disease, Nassau County Medical Center, East Meadow, NY 11554.
Stoffer
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HR
Forlenza
S
S
Altieri
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RH
D000328:Adult; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis*