Brazilian Protocol for Sexually Transmitted Infections 2020: syphilis diagnostic tests

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Pâmela Cristina Gaspar, Álisson Bigolin, José Boullosa Alonso Neto, Esdras Daniel dos Santos Pereira, Maria Luiza Bazzo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2021
• Subjects: Syphilis; Neurosyphilis; Congenital syphilis; Diagnosis; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-630-2020; https://doaj.org/article/2b098410c0ac4e60ae9e8633c8824953

Abstract 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.