General Information About the Test
Test Process and Preparation
No. The VDRL is a very sensitive screening test but is not 100% specific to the disease. It can yield a "False Positive" in conditions such as rheumatic diseases like Lupus, pregnancy, tuberculosis, and old age. If the result is positive, confirmatory tests such as TPHA or FTA-ABS must be performed for a definitive diagnosis.
It can take several weeks for the body to produce antibodies against the syphilis microbe (Treponema pallidum). Therefore, it yields the most accurate result when performed 3 to 6 weeks after a suspicious contact.
No. Because it is a test that looks for syphilis antibodies, it is not affected by eating food. It can be processed with blood drawn from an arm vein at any time of the day.
The information on this page is for informational purposes only. The results of medical tests must be evaluated by specialist physicians.
