What does FTA-ABS positive mean?
A positive FTA-ABS is often a sign of a syphilis infection. This test result will remain positive for life even if syphilis has been adequately treated. Therefore, it cannot be used to monitor the treatment of syphilis or determine that you have active syphilis.
What causes false positive FTA-ABS?
False-positive serum FTA-ABS occurs in a variety of diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (with a weak and/or beaded pattern), relapsing fever, Lyme disease (Magnarelli et al., 1987), yaws, pinta, leptospirosis, and rat bite fever (Tuffanelli et al., 1967).
Which antigen is used on FTA-ABS test?
The predominant immunoglobulin that reacts with T. pallidum in the indirect fluorescent antibody tests appears to be IgG. This is the major immunoglobulin detected in the FTA-ABS test. IgM, although increased in early syphilis, is also increased in other clinical conditions.
Can FTA-ABS be false negative?
False-Negative Fluorescent Treponemal Tests and IgM may lead to a false-negative FTA-ABS test result.
How long does FTA-ABS stay positive?
An abnormal or positive result usually means you have an active syphilis infection or have had one before. Your FTA-ABS test result will be positive for the rest of your life, even after you’ve been treated.
How accurate is the FTA-ABS test?
In the middle (secondary) stage of syphilis, the FTA-ABS test is most reliable and is reportedly positive in 100% of cases.
Is FTA-ABS Treponemal?
The fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test is a blood test that checks for the presence of antibodies to Treponema pallidum bacteria. These bacteria cause syphilis. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that’s spread through direct contact with syphilitic sores.
What is FTA-ABS IGG IGM?
What does a negative FTA-ABS mean?
FTA-ABS detects the majority but not all cases of the disease. It is thus a way of screening for the disease. A negative FTA-ABS test result is consistent with a person not having syphilis. However, a person may have a negative FTA-ABS test result while in the early (primary) and late (tertiary) stages of the disease.
When does FTA-ABS turn positive?
The MHA-TP is positive in 76 percent of patients with primary syphilis, and the FTA-ABS is positive in 84 percent….Causes of False-Positive Serologic Tests for Syphilis.
| Nontreponemal causes | |
|---|---|
| Acute condition (< 6 months) | |
| Pneumococcal | |
| Mycoplasma | |
| Hepatitis |