Accuracy of PCR and serological testing for the diagnosis of
primary syphilis: Both tests are necessary

J 2019

Accuracy of PCR and serological testing for the diagnosis of primary syphilis: Both tests are necessary

NODA, Angel A.; Islay RODRIGUEZ; Linda GRILLOVÁ; Philipp P. BOSSHARD; Reto LIENHARD et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Accuracy of PCR and serological testing for the diagnosis of primary syphilis: Both tests are necessary

Authors

NODA, Angel A. (192 Cuba, guarantor); Islay RODRIGUEZ (192 Cuba); Linda GRILLOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution); Philipp P. BOSSHARD (756 Switzerland) and Reto LIENHARD (756 Switzerland)

Edition

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STD & AIDS, LONDON, SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD, 2019, 0956-4624

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Article in a journal

Field of Study

30303 Infectious Diseases

Country of publisher

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Confidentiality degree

is not subject to a state or trade secret

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 1.406

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14110/19:00112504

Organization unit

Faculty of Medicine

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1177/0956462419859764

UT WoS

000490799700001

EID Scopus

2-s2.0-85073943631

Keywords in English

Syphilis diagnosis; PCR; serology

Abstract

In the original language

Syphilis, caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, is a rising global public health concern and laboratory diagnostics remain challenging. Especially during early disease, rapid and accurate diagnosis is crucial to ensure patients and their contacts receive timely treatment to eradicate infection and prevent further transmission. In this prospective observational study, we evaluated the performance of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serological testing for the diagnosis of primary syphilis by evaluating anogenital swabs and sera from 178 Cuban patients presenting with ulcers. Three different PCR assays were evaluated targeting polA, tpp47 and 16S rDNA loci. Sera were evaluated with venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) and T. pallidum hemagglutination (TPHA) assays. Assuming both methods were confirmatory, our data showed that PCR and serology did not correlate well (agreement = 52.3%, kappa 0.0512, 95% CI -0.0928-0.1951, p = 0.496). The sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative predictive values of the PCR assays were 76.1%, 100%, 100% and 57.9%, respectively, while the values for serology were 62.5%, 100%, 100% and 45.2%, respectively. The combination of PCR and serology can offer valuable information for the diagnosis of syphilis in patients presenting with anogenital ulceration avoiding further clinical complications and disease transmission.

Cite

NODA, Angel A.; Islay RODRIGUEZ; Linda GRILLOVÁ; Philipp P. BOSSHARD and Reto LIENHARD. Accuracy of PCR and serological testing for the diagnosis of primary syphilis: Both tests are necessary. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STD & AIDS. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD, 2019, vol. 30, No 11, p. 1087-1094. ISSN 0956-4624. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/0956462419859764.

@article{1605463,
   author = {Noda, Angel A. and Rodriguez, Islay and Grillová, Linda and Bosshard, Philipp P. and Lienhard, Reto},
   article_location = {LONDON},
   article_number = {11},
   doi = {https://doi.org/10.1177/0956462419859764},
   keywords = {Syphilis diagnosis; PCR; serology},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0956-4624},
   journal = {INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STD & AIDS},
   title = {Accuracy of PCR and serological testing for the diagnosis of primary syphilis: Both tests are necessary},
   url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0956462419859764},
   volume = {30},
   year = {2019}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1605463
AU  - Noda, Angel A. - Rodriguez, Islay - Grillová, Linda - Bosshard, Philipp P. - Lienhard, Reto
PY  - 2019
TI  - Accuracy of PCR and serological testing for the diagnosis of primary syphilis: Both tests are necessary
JF  - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STD & AIDS
VL  - 30
IS  - 11
SP  - 1087-1094
EP  - 1087-1094
PB  - SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
SN  - 09564624
KW  - Syphilis diagnosis
KW  - PCR
KW  - serology
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0956462419859764
L2  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0956462419859764
N2  - Syphilis, caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, is a rising global public health concern and laboratory diagnostics remain challenging. Especially during early disease, rapid and accurate diagnosis is crucial to ensure patients and their contacts receive timely treatment to eradicate infection and prevent further transmission. In this prospective observational study, we evaluated the performance of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serological testing for the diagnosis of primary syphilis by evaluating anogenital swabs and sera from 178 Cuban patients presenting with ulcers. Three different PCR assays were evaluated targeting polA, tpp47 and 16S rDNA loci. Sera were evaluated with venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) and T. pallidum hemagglutination (TPHA) assays. Assuming both methods were confirmatory, our data showed that PCR and serology did not correlate well (agreement = 52.3%, kappa 0.0512, 95% CI -0.0928-0.1951, p = 0.496). The sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative predictive values of the PCR assays were 76.1%, 100%, 100% and 57.9%, respectively, while the values for serology were 62.5%, 100%, 100% and 45.2%, respectively. The combination of PCR and serology can offer valuable information for the diagnosis of syphilis in patients presenting with anogenital ulceration avoiding further clinical complications and disease transmission.
ER  -

NODA, Angel A.; Islay RODRIGUEZ; Linda GRILLOVÁ; Philipp P. BOSSHARD and Reto LIENHARD. Accuracy of PCR and serological testing for the diagnosis of primary syphilis: Both tests are necessary. \textit{INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STD \&{}amp; AIDS}. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD, 2019, vol.~30, No~11, p.~1087-1094. ISSN~0956-4624. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/0956462419859764.

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