A Procedure for the Serological Diagnosis of Syphilis Based on a Comparative Study of Five Modern Serological Tests.

Numerous serological tests for syphilis have been devised; there is, however, little information available indicating which test or combination of tests gives the most reliable results in routine serological work. The present paper attempts to answer this question. Five modern serological tests, differing from each other as widely as possible, were applied to a series of 470 serums from syphilitic persons and 989 serums from non-syphilitic persons. Attention has been paid not only to the sensitivity and specificity of the results of the individual tests but also to the ease with which the tests could be performed. Finally a procedure has been evolved whereby all syphilitic serums can be identified and at the same time the occurrence of non-specific results almost entirely eliminated.