Serological Diagnosis of Syphilis

Abstract

Syphilis is a serious systemic disease caused by the spirochaete, Treponema pallidum. Because the organism is unable to be cultured, diagnosis of syphilis is based on clinical findings, examination of lesion exudates and serologic tests for syphilis. Direct examination of exudates from primary lesions by dark field microscopy is not often possible and is rarely performed. Hence the primary method for laboratory diagnosis of syphilis is by serology.