What does a positive result of Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) Test indicate?
The Unheated Serum Reagin Test (USR) for syphilis is a screening test to check if a patient is infected with syphilis. However, it is not the sole criterion for diagnosing syphilis. Specific serological tests are also required. Once syphilis is diagnosed, prompt treatment is necessary.
The Unheated Serum Reagin Test is a non-specific test for syphilis. A positive result indicates a high probability of syphilis infection. However, as it is a non-specific test, a positive result alone cannot confirm syphilis. This requires a specific serological test for syphilis, typically the Treponema Pallidum Particle Agglutination Test (TPPA).
If the USR (trust) is positive but the TPPA is negative, it may be a false-positive result. However, if both the USR and TPPA are positive, it indicates a syphilis infection.
If a pregnant woman's syphilis serology is positive and syphilis cannot be excluded, even if she has previously undergone anti-syphilis treatment, to protect the fetus, anti-syphilis treatment should be repeated. However, if a pregnant woman with syphilis has already undergone regular treatment and follow-up during pregnancy, no further treatment is required.
