title: Serological screening of cord blood for syphilis.
abstract: Meticulous antenatal screening for maternal syphilis can prevent congenital syphilis. In the event of inadequate antenatal screening, determination of reagin reactivity on cord blood becomes mandatory. A card test utilising the VDR carbon antigen (Wellcome) was used to screen cord blood samples for reagin reactivity. The same blood was also screened by a reference laboratory, where the VDRL card test was repeated and every result was substantiated by treponemal tests. The VDRL card test done at the local laboratory had a sensitivity of 83,3% and a specificity of 99,8% when compared with the results of the reference laboratory.
authors: Department of Paediatrics, University of Pretoria.
authors: S D
authors: SD
authors: Delport
mesh_terms: D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011935:Reagins / Q000032:analysis; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D013590:Syphilis, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D011935:Reagins