Recent methodologies in laboratory diagnosis of syphilis

This article reviews the current status of serological assays and provides an update on more recent methodologies for syphilis testing and diagnosis.

Educational Objectives

Educational Aim:

The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive summary of the diagnostic tests available for syphilis along with their performance throughout the stages of the disease.

Editor's comments:

The spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continues to be an urgent public health issue in South Africa. While prevention will always be better than a cure, the prevalence of STIs, especially among women, makes it important to understand early warning signs.

Syphilis is a bacterial infection mainly spread through sexual contact. Left untreated, it can have severe long-term impacts on the health of women and men. It can also be transmitted from mothers to infants with devastating consequences for the child. When an infant gets sick in this way it is referred to as congenital syphilis. South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Disease (NICD) defines it as a “severe, disabling, and often life-threatening infection seen in infants.” Rates of syphilis have increased over the years and this has had adverse outcomes on the fetus/baby hence the need for new methodologies for the diagnosis and treatment of syphilis.

Educational Outcomes:
Upon completion of this module practitioners should have a clear understanding of:

1. Upon completion of this module, practitioners should have a better understanding of laboratory diagnosis of syphilis including established and new testing methodologies.

Instructions for this Module

• Read the supplied reading material and complete the quiz that follows;
• You have three attempts to pass the quiz;
• The pass grade is 70%;
• You need to pass the quiz to claim your CPD certificate;
• Please click on the CPD certificate link below to claim your CPD certificate and to update your CPD Manager.

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