Treponema pallidum Antibody, CSF (Sendout)

Clinical Significance: This immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for T pallidum antibody, also called the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption assay (FTA-ABS), may aid in the diagnosis of neurosyphilis. A nonreactive FTA-ABS CSF result suggest the absence of neurosyphilis. However, the preferred initial test for neurosyphilis evaluation is Venereal Disease Research Laboratory, VDRL, CSF (Sendout) [RCVDRL]. For the diagnosis of neurosyphilis, all serum and CSF tests for syphilis should be evaluated in conjunction with clinical presentation.

The significance of a reactive result in the FTA-ABS CSF test is unknown. The CSF from persons treated in the secondary or latent stage of syphilis and without signs of neurosyphilis may be reactive.

• Washington DOH Notifiable Conditions

Qualitative Indirect Fluorescent Antibody (IFA)

Collect 1 mL cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)