What can cause a false-positive syphilis blood test?
False-positive nontreponemal test results can be associated with various medical conditions unrelated to syphilis, including autoimmune disorders, older age, and injection drug use. Screening tests, such as the VDRL and RPR, are relatively simple to perform and provide rapid results.
Which of the following is a cause of a biological false-positive in the nontreponemal assays for syphilis?
Several conditions can cause a false positive result on a nontreponemal test, which means that the test result is positive despite the patient not having a syphilis infection. These conditions include IV drug use, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, Lyme disease, certain types of pneumonia, malaria, and autoimmune diseases.
Which test for syphilis is most likely to result in a false-positive?
False negatives tend to be more common in the initial and end stages of infection. Among people who are in the secondary (middle) stage of infection, the RPR test result is nearly always positive. The RPR test also can produce false-positive results, suggesting you have syphilis when you actually don’t.
Can lupus cause a false-positive syphilis test?
Sera of patients with lupus erythematosus can produce false-positive reactions in most serologic tests for syphilis, including the FTA-ABS test.
Can lupus cause a false positive syphilis test?
Can pregnancy cause a false positive syphilis test?
False positive Syphilis tests are fairly common in pregnancy firstly because it is recommended that every pregnant woman is tested for Syphilis which in itself increases the odds.
Can VDRL test be false positive?
The VDRL test is sometimes positive in the absence of syphilis. For example, a false positive VDRL can be encountered in infectious mononucleosis, lupus, the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, hepatitis A, leprosy, malaria and, occasionally, pregnancy. The RPR (rapid plasma reagin) test is similar to the VDRL test.
Can a blood test for syphilis be wrong?
A negative test result is considered normal. However, the body does not always produce antibodies specifically in response to the syphilis bacteria, so the test is not always accurate. False-negatives may occur in people with early- and late-stage syphilis. More testing may be needed before ruling out syphilis.
How accurate is Vdrl test?
The VDRL test’s ability to detect syphilis depends on the stage of the disease. The test’s sensitivity to detect syphilis nears 100% during the middle stages; it is less sensitive during the earlier and later stages. Some conditions may cause a false-positive test, including: HIV/AIDS.
Can lupus cause false-positive RPR?
False-Positive Test for Syphilis In the 1940s, when it was common for people to have premarital exams, doctors realized that some women with lupus tested positive for syphilis. Further studies indicated that 1 in 5 people with lupus had a false-positive syphilis test.