A Century of syphilis serology

The year 2006 represented the centenary of the first diagnostic serological test, the Wasserman complement fixation test for the diagnosis of syphilis. In this article I will relate some developments I have observed in the day-to-day running of a diagnostic serology laboratory over the thirty years preceding this centenary. I have assumed some background knowledge and elected to discuss only selected aspects of serological tests for syphilis (STS), rather than attempt a comprehensive review of the subject. A number of areas such as the serological diagnosis of congenital syphilis, the use of and interpretation of western blots in ?problem? sera and diagnosis of other treponemal diseases have not been included.