Reactivity of microhemagglutination, fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption, and venereal disease research laboratory tests in primary syphilis

Abstract

Seroreactivity in 130 cases of primary syphilis was 91.5% by fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test, 82.3% by microhemagglutination (MHA-TP test), and 68.5% by the Venereal Disease Reseach Laboratory (VDRL) test. The MHA TP test generally became reactive earlier than the VDRL test and confirmed all reactive and most weakly reactive VDRL results.