Syphilis Serology

Part 1: syphilis serology - historical. Part 2 The treponemal diseases of man: syphilis (sexually transmitted); congenital syphilis; yaws; pinta; endemic syphilis. Part 3: modern disease control. Part 4 Microbiology of the treponemes: growth and structure; the Reiter treponeme. Part 5 The immune response: humoral response; treponemal antigens; antibodies associated with treponemal infections; cell-mediated response. Part 6: specimen reception and management. Part 7 Non-treponemal serological tests for syphilis: VDRL slide test; RPR test; carbon-VDRL antigen (automatic and manual); other non-treponemal tests and their interpretation. Part 8 Microhaemagglutination technique: "Treponema pallidum" Haemagglutination Assay (TPHA). Part 9 Immunofluorescence technique: the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test and direct immunofluorescence test for "T. pallidum". Part 10: fluorescence microscopy applicable to syphilis serology. Part 11 Additional tests: Reiter Protein Complement Fixation Test (RPCFT); "Treponema pallidum" Immobilization test (TPI). Part 12 Examination of CSF for neurosyphilis: tests for inflammatory process in the CNS and for excess globulins in CSF and for antibodies in CSF. Part 13 Quality control applicable to syphilis serology: Internal Quality Control (IQC); External Quality Assurance (EQA). Part 14: laboratory skills. Part 15 The future development of syphilis serology: DNA technology; solid-phaze Haemadsorption (SPHA); Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA); immune blotting techniques. Appendices: preparation of FTA-abs test antigen; preparation of Reiter antigen; preparation of sorbent; preparation of Reiter sonicate; evaluation of FITC conjugates.