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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Why Is My Father S Tpha Test Positive And Vdrl Negative?

Dear sir, my name is santosh I am very confused my fathers tpha test came positive and after treatment vdrl comes negative and tpha test comea positive again and value showing 160 and reference range is given less then 20 negative and greater than 20 positive. .. I doesn t understand this range I saw the previous report which shows 1:60 or 1:80 but no range but this new phenomena 160 ...plz tell me what to do next ...
Mon, 26 May 2014
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Pathologist and Microbiologist,  's  Response
Hello and welcome to HCM,
Syphilis is detected by performing VDRL test.
VDRL is the preliminary test.
If it comes out to be positive further TPHA test is done to confirm the infection.
There are certain conditions wherein the VDRL can come out to be falsely positive.
However, TPHA is negative in such cases.
It is unlikely for VDRL to be negative and TPHA to be positive.
There may be some defect in either VDRL or TPHA test.
You need to get the test repeated with other test kits.
The test is reported as the antibody titres.
According to your kit, the titres above 1:20 are considered to be positive.
Thus, the test will be considered positive if antibody titres are above 1:20.

Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal
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Why Is My Father S Tpha Test Positive And Vdrl Negative?

Hello and welcome to HCM, Syphilis is detected by performing VDRL test. VDRL is the preliminary test. If it comes out to be positive further TPHA test is done to confirm the infection. There are certain conditions wherein the VDRL can come out to be falsely positive. However, TPHA is negative in such cases. It is unlikely for VDRL to be negative and TPHA to be positive. There may be some defect in either VDRL or TPHA test. You need to get the test repeated with other test kits. The test is reported as the antibody titres. According to your kit, the titres above 1:20 are considered to be positive. Thus, the test will be considered positive if antibody titres are above 1:20. Thanks and take care Dr Shailja P Wahal