FTA-ABS stands for fluorescent treponemal antibody absorbed,
a blood serum screening test for syphilis designed to demonstrate the presence or
absence of specific antibodies directed against the organism (Treponema pallidum)
responsible for syphilis.
F TA-ABS detects the majority but not all cases of the disease. It is thus a
way of screening for the disease.
A negative FTA-ABS test result is consistent with a person not having syphilis.
However, a person may have a negative FTA-ABS test result while in the early (primary)
and late (tertiary) stages of the disease. In the middle (secondary) stage of syphilis,
the FTA-ABS test is most reliable and is reportedly positive in 100% of cases.
The FTA-ABS test is often used as a confirmatory test after first screening a
patient with a VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) or RPR (rapid plasma
reagin) test, since the FTA-ABS test is more expensive and time-consuming than 'non-treponemal'
syphilis tests such as the VDRL and RPR.
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