Question:medium
Which of the following is the diagnostic test for neurosyphilis?
Which of the following is the diagnostic test for neurosyphilis?
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Think of the test that becomes reactive in CSF and confirms central nervous system syphilis.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- VDRL
- RPR
- TPI
- FTA-ABS
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: The clinical question is which laboratory test confirms involvement of the central nervous system by Treponema pallidum. The key sample here is the CSF, not serum.
Step 2: When CSF is analysed in suspected neurosyphilis, the findings include increased white cells (pleocytosis), elevated protein and a reactive VDRL. A reactive CSF VDRL is taken as confirmation of neurosyphilis.
Step 3: Because the CSF VDRL is highly specific but not very sensitive, a non-reactive result cannot exclude the disease; here the FTA-ABS test is added to back up the VDRL.
Step 4: RPR and TPI do not serve as the principal CSF confirmatory test, so among the choices VDRL is the diagnostic test of choice for neurosyphilis.
\[\boxed{\text{VDRL}}\]
Step 2: When CSF is analysed in suspected neurosyphilis, the findings include increased white cells (pleocytosis), elevated protein and a reactive VDRL. A reactive CSF VDRL is taken as confirmation of neurosyphilis.
Step 3: Because the CSF VDRL is highly specific but not very sensitive, a non-reactive result cannot exclude the disease; here the FTA-ABS test is added to back up the VDRL.
Step 4: RPR and TPI do not serve as the principal CSF confirmatory test, so among the choices VDRL is the diagnostic test of choice for neurosyphilis.
\[\boxed{\text{VDRL}}\]
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