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STDs (Expert Forum)
Sensitivity of Eia syphilis test
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
Sensitivity of Eia syphilis test
by cdn067, Feb 26, 2009 12:29PM
Can you tell me the sensitivity and accuracy of the Eia syphilis enzyme immunoassay that measures the Igm and IgG antibodies specific for Treponema pallidium in latent and late stage syphilis? The timeline of possible infection would be 15 yrs. I've read that the sensitivity of this test goes down after this amount of time and in those stages. Is that true?
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Feb 26, 2009 01:00PM
, Feb 26, 2009 01:00PM
The nonspecific serological tests (VDRL, RPR) become progressively less strong over the years and sometimes become entirely negative, even without treatment. But all the syphilis specific tests, including the older ones like FTA-ABS and the newer EIA tests, remain positive for life. Once in a while the FTA-ABS becomes negative if the patient's syphilis is detected and treated early, and the same might be true for the EIAs; research is needed on this aspect. However, once positive in an untreated patient, the test is believed to remain positive for life. A negative result is strong evidence that the person tested never had syphilis. At the very least, a negative result proves that the person does not currently have active syphilis and has no potential for future reactivation.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Member Comments (3)
by cdn067, Feb 27, 2009 11:42AM
To: HHH
Sorry, I may have worded my question poorly, what am asking is if the EIA test is a reliable and sensitive test after 15 years if hypothetically you were untreated? No chance of false negatives?
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Feb 27, 2009 11:48AM
, Feb 27, 2009 11:48AM
Yes, that's what I said. Re-read the last 2 sentences of my reply. If the person in question is you and you have a negative syphilis EIA, you never had syphilis.
