VDRL test
VDRL test
The VDRL test (pronounced: V-D-R-L test), also known as the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test, is a blood test for syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection (STI). The test was developed by the United States Public Health Service's Venereal Disease Research Laboratory, from which it derives its name.
Etymology
The term "VDRL" is an acronym derived from the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory, the institution that originally developed the test. The term "venereal" comes from Venus, the Roman goddess of love, reflecting the historical association of these diseases with sexual activity.
Procedure
The VDRL test is a nontreponemal test that checks for the presence of antibodies produced in response to the bacterium Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis. The test involves taking a blood sample from the patient, which is then mixed with a reagent. If the patient's blood contains antibodies to Treponema pallidum, the mixture will clump together, indicating a positive result.
Related Terms
- Syphilis: A sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.
- Treponema pallidum: The bacterium that causes syphilis.
- Sexually transmitted infection (STI): An infection that is spread by sexual contact.
- Antibody: A protein produced by the body's immune system in response to harmful substances such as bacteria or viruses.
- Reagent: A substance used in a chemical reaction to detect, measure, examine, or produce other substances.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on VDRL test
- Wikipedia's article - VDRL test
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