Syphilis elisa testing is one of the common screening methods for syphilis in Ethiopia. It is routinely performed on pregnant women, blood donors, and social workers. Although RPR is cheap and widely used, its diagnostic performance is questionable. While manufacturers claim that it is highly accurate, data about its performance in the study area are sparse. In this study, we compared ECOTEST-RPR with DIALAB-ELISA and Randox-TPHA assays.
The ELISA is 99.9% sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of syphilis. The recommended syphilis screening test detects both reactive and nonreactive antibodies to syphilis. Because ELISA tests are easy to perform, they are often used as screening tests for syphilis. This is an important benefit of ELISA tests compared to other screening tests.
The treponemal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was evaluated as an alternative syphilis screening test in pregnant women. The test was evaluated by comparing the sensitivity and specificity of TPHA and ELISA in 416 samples from pregnant women. Moreover, this test was evaluated against 102 archived TPHA-positive samples. To be accurate, the ELISA requires the specimen of at least two types of sexual partners.
The ELISA test is a qualitative enzyme immunoassay that detects treponemal antibodies in serum or plasma. This test is a great way to screen for the infection before getting a more serious medical problem. ELISA is the gold standard for syphilis diagnosis. There are many advantages to ELISA. It can be used for screening blood donors as well as for diagnosing syphilis. After testing, remember to clean the plate bu using ELISA washer.
In addition to high sensitivity and specificity, DIALAB-ELISA has a high negative predictive value. Compared to Randox-TPHA, DIALAB-ELISA showed fewer false positives and five false negatives. In general, these differences were due to the immunodominant syphilis proteins in the ELISA kits. In addition, DIALAB-ELISA had higher agreement with TPHA while RPR had a high false-positive diagnostic rate.
Another screening test for syphilis is the rapid plasma reagin test. This test measures antibodies in the blood and does not require any special preparation. The needle used during the test may cause moderate pain or pricking. The test may also be used to screen pregnant women for syphilis. When done correctly, the RPR test is highly accurate. However, if the results are negative, more tests may be needed to determine the diagnosis.
The antenatal screening coordinator should identify the risk factors for a pregnancy that may have resulted in a positive test for syphilis. She should discuss the case with the laboratory clinicians and the Sexual Health physician in charge of antenatal screening. The result from the initial screening should not be repeated until the woman is at least thirteen weeks. A repeat sample is necessary to confirm that she is not infected with syphilis.
This study included 160 participants. Of these, 80 were positive for syphilis. A routine technique known as ECOTEST-RPR was used in the study area. In addition to the RPR test, the study also reviewed the clinical data of the study subjects. Overall, a patient with syphilis should be treated as soon as possible. The results from the study will allow physicians to decide on the appropriate course of therapy.
HIV/AIDS and HCV are common diseases that are detected by the ELISA test. Other ELISA tests are available in the market. They include t-PSA ELISA and anti-HTLV(1+2) ELISA test kits. The AFP-L3 rapid test device includes Protein A and ConA Sepharose CL4B activated Sepharose. The HEV-IgG ELISA test is also widely available.