Syphilis Test Kits

Syphilis is caused by the spirochetal bacterium Treponema pallidum. There are four stages of syphilis infection: Primary, Secondary, Latent and Tertiary, and a special condition of maternal-fetal transmission termed congenital syphilis. Immune responses to syphilis can be grouped into two categories: non-specific (or reaginic) and specific.

The non- specific is of the IgM class and reacts with an alcoholic extract of beef heart known as cardiolipin.

Since the reaginic antibody lacks specificity, it shows up many other conditions and disease states unrelated to treponemal infection. In these cases false positive reactions can occur. Specific antibodies to treponemes (both T. pallidum and to non pathogenic treponemes) of the normal bacterial flora of the oral or genital tract can also develop. These antibodies are of IgG class and remain detectable throughout the life of the patient despite treatment.

We offer a comprehensive range of routine tests for syphilis.