[Detection of anti-Treponema pallidum antibodies with colloidal gold immunoprobes].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of colloidal gold probes widely used in histochemistry and electronic microscopy for the serologic diagnosis of syphilis.


METHODS
One hundred eighty-nine sera which had been submitted to the traditional fluorescent trigenemic absorption (FTA-ABS) test and had later been tested with the new colloidal gold probe method (IAT-ABS).


RESULTS
Out of a total of 103 positive samples by FTA-ABS all were positive when tested by gold immunoprobes (sensitivity 100%). Eighty-six samples which were negative by immunofluorescence were all negative by IAT-ABS (specificity 100%).


CONCLUSIONS
The new method of colloidal gold probes with the current microscopy is useful for confirming serologic diagnosis of syphilis.
Burgos
J D
JD
Laboratorio Biotecnológico, Universidad INCCA de Colombia, Bogotá, S. América.
Mendoza
M
M
Vinasco
J
J
Hernández
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D017979:Gold Colloid; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D017979:Gold Colloid
Detección de anticuerpos anti-Treponema pallidum con inmunosondas de oro coloidal.