The clinical applicability of five syphilis serology detection methods

Objectives: To analyze the sensitivity and specificity of five kinds of different syphilis serology detection methods,to select an efficient and accurate detection method for reliable test results in clinical application. Methods: 386 syphilis- positive serum samples from patients diagnosed and 264 serum samples from healthy individuals in our hospital from January 2011 to December 2013,respectively using enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay( ELISA),toluidine red heating serum test( TRUST),rapid plasma reagin test( RPR),reponema pallidum particle agglutination test( TPPA) and Treponema pallidum hemagglutination test( TPHA) for positive serum and healthy serum samples testing. Results: The sensitivity of ELISA and TPPA was higher,97. 67% and 97. 41% respectively,with no significant difference( χ2= 1. 124,P 0. 05); sensitivity of ELISA and TPPA were higher than TRUST and RPR method( P 0. 05); the sensitivity of TPHA was slightly less than that of ELISA and TPPA,with no significant difference( χ2= 1. 012,0. 947,P 0. 05); there was no statistically significant difference between each two of the five kinds of serological detection methods( P 0. 05). Conclusion: The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA and TPPA methods are good. For syphilis screening or clinical diagnosis,ELISA and TRUST( or RPR)can be used for dual screen,before being confirmed by TPPA.