A blood test that detects antibodies directed specifically to the bacteria that causes syphilis - Treponema pallidum . This test is used routinely to confirm whether a positive screening test for syphilis (either VDRL or RPR) reflects true infection with syphilis . In addition, since the screening tests may miss up to a third of cases of early (primary) or late (tertiary) syphilis, FTA-ABS may be used in these circumstances to improve diagnostic yield.

Alternative Names

Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test