title: Syphilis testing.
abstract: The organism that causes syphilis, Treponema pallidum, is impossible to culture in the clinical laboratory. Direct visualization of the pathogen is one laboratory technique used in the diagnosis of syphilis. Currently, serologic testing is the most widely used laboratory technique in diagnosing syphilis and monitoring its course after treatment. Serologic tests are divided into two categories, the nontreponemal and treponemal antibody tests. Newer techniques such as enzyme immunoassays have shown excellent results.
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Clyne
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Jerrard
mesh_terms: D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000302:isolation & purification*