Teach you how to easily interpret syphilis serology test reports

When medical staff are exposed to blood-borne diseases, except for doctors in the infectious department, medical staff in other departments will be horrified when they see the positive syphilis report from the source of exposure. How to identify whether the source of exposure is contagious? This article will teach you how to read the syphilis report.

Let’s first clear up some ignorance and understand what syphilis is?

Syphilis is a chronic sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum infecting the human body. More than 95% of the cases are transmitted through sexual contact. In severe cases, it can cause damage to multiple systems and organs in the human body. When a person is infected with Treponema pallidum 4-10 weeks later, a certain amount of antibodies can be produced in the serum. Therefore, syphilis serological examination is an important part of syphilis diagnosis and an indispensable screening method.

Then look comprehensively at the syphilis serological test report to identify whether the source of exposure is contagious.

Special instructions for indicators:

TPPA is an indicator used in syphilis confirmation tests to determine whether a patient has been infected with syphilis. This indicator will remain positive for life for clinically cured patients and will not become negative over time.

TRUST is a quantitative test, and its titer change is positively correlated with the treatment of syphilis, that is, as syphilis is cured, the antibody titer decreases. This test is used to determine whether the disease is contagious, whether treatment is needed, and observe the efficacy of treatment.

Warm reminder: When it comes to the diagnosis of syphilis, you cannot blindly give a diagnosis and treatment based on a test report alone. You need to conduct a comprehensive analysis based on the patient's infection history, clinical manifestations, previous treatment, and sexual partner situation. Otherwise, misdiagnosis and treatment and overtreatment will occur.

Source: Chongqing Banan District Second People's Hospital

Audit experts: Yang Ju, Yang Jifan

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