A pregnant woman who underwent syphilis testing showed positive results for VDRL but negative for specific treponemal tests. Interpret the results
Pregnancy can give rise to false-positive VDRL. BFP (biological false positive reactions) is defined as positive reactions obtained in non-specific treponemal tests (RPR, VDRL)with negative results in specific treponemal tests, in the absence of past or present treponemal infections and not caused by technical faults. Chronic Biological False Positive reactions are seen in SLE Leprosy Malaria Relapsing feve r Infectious mononucleosis Hepatitis Tropical eosinophilia Reference: Ananthanarayan and Paniker&;s Textbook of Microbiology Tenth edition
Positive for syphilis
Biological false positive
False negative
Positive for non pathogenic Treponema
Bacteriology