Description
Treponema pallidum (T. Pallidum) Total Antibody is a blood test used to detect antibodies to Treponema pallidum, the bacterium that causes syphilis.
What Does This Test Check For?
This test detects antibodies produced by the immune system in response to Treponema pallidum infection. Depending on the laboratory method, total antibody testing may detect both IgG and IgM antibodies.
The test may be useful for:
- Screening for syphilis
- Evaluating possible exposure to syphilis
- Investigating symptoms that could be associated with syphilis
- Identifying evidence of a current or previous infection
- Routine STI screening
Understanding Your Results
Nonreactive: No T. pallidum antibodies were detected. Very recent infection may not yet produce detectable antibodies.
Reactive: T. pallidum antibodies were detected. A reactive result does not necessarily mean that an active infection is present, because treponemal antibodies can remain detectable for many years—and often for life—after a previous infection has been successfully treated.
Additional testing, such as an RPR (Rapid Plasma Reagin) test and/or another treponemal test, may be needed to determine whether the result represents a current infection, a previously treated infection, or occasionally a false-positive result.
Important
A T. Pallidum Total Antibody test should not be used by itself to determine whether syphilis is currently active. The CDC recommends interpreting treponemal and nontreponemal testing together when evaluating syphilis.
Specimen: Blood/Serum Preparation: No fasting required
