Brazilian Protocol for Sexually Transmitted Infections 2020: syphilis diagnostic tests.
Pâmela Cristina Gaspar, Álisson Bigolin, José Boullosa Alonso Neto, Esdras Daniel Dos Santos Pereira, Maria Luiza Bazzo
Author Information
Pâmela Cristina Gaspar: Ministério da Saúde do Brasil, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Departamento de Doenças de Condições Crônicas e Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis, Brasília, DF, Brasil. ORCID
Álisson Bigolin: Ministério da Saúde do Brasil, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Departamento de Doenças de Condições Crônicas e Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis, Brasília, DF, Brasil. ORCID
José Boullosa Alonso Neto: Ministério da Saúde do Brasil, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Departamento de Doenças de Condições Crônicas e Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis, Brasília, DF, Brasil. ORCID
Esdras Daniel Dos Santos Pereira: Ministério da Saúde do Brasil, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Departamento de Doenças de Condições Crônicas e Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis, Brasília, DF, Brasil. ORCID
Maria Luiza Bazzo: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Microbiologia e Sorologia, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil. ORCID
The recommendations for diagnostic tests for investigating syphilis are part of the Clinical Protocol and Therapeutic Guidelines for Comprehensive Care for People with Sexually Transmitted Infections and the Technical Manual for syphilis Diagnosis, published by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. These recommendations were developed based on scientific evidence and discussions with a panel of experts. This article presents direct tests to detect Treponema pallidum in lesions and algorithms that combine treponemal and non-treponemal antibody tests to assist in syphilis diagnosis, with the aim of contributing to the efforts of health service managers and health professionals in qualifying health care. The article also covers the use of non-treponemal tests to investigate neurosyphilis and guidelines for interpreting non-treponemal antibody titers in monitoring the treatment and diagnosis of congenital syphilis, as well as prospects for innovations in diagnosis. The critical role of rapid immunochromatographic treponemal tests for public health and for addressing syphilis is also highlighted. Highlighted excerpt: During the natural evolution of syphilis, activity periods with distinct clinical, immunological, and histopathological characteristics are interspersed with latent periods when there are no signs or symptoms, making access to tests critical for early diagnosis.
