Borobio, M.V., Álvarez-Dardet, Carlos, Gallardo, R.M.
Evaluation of a solid-phase enzyme immunoassay in the diagnosis of syphilis
BOROBIO, M.V.; ÁLVAREZ-DARDET DÍAZ, Carlos; GALLARDO, R.M. "Evaluation of a solid-phase enzyme immunoassay in the diagnosis of syphilis". European Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 2 (1985). ISSN 0261-5622, pp. 231-233
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10045/17824
DOI: 
ISSN: 0261-5622
Abstract: 
A solid phase enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA), the antigen being bound to the surface of ferrous metal beads, was evaluated as either a diagnostic or a confirmative test for syphilis by comparison with the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) and the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-abs) tests in two groups of` population: healthy people and syphilitic patients. The sensitivity of the ELISA test was found to be 75%, the specificity 98.1%. There were no statistically significant differences as to accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) between ELISA test and the VDRL test (p<0.05). The ELISA test therefore does not represent an improvement in the first line syphilis diagnosis when compared with the classical VDRL test. ELISA was less reactive than the FTA-abs test in all the stages of the disease. Its only advantage is easier performance by automation.
Keywords:ELISA, VDLR, Syphilis
Churchill Livingstone
info:eu-repo/semantics/article