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LETTER TO EDITOR |
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| Year : 2022 | Volume
: 43
| Issue : 2 | Page : 233-234 |
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Conventional versus reverse testing algorithm for syphilis in high-risk population: A diagnostic dilemma
Bineeta Kashyap, Rituparna Saha, Vikas Saini, Narendra Pal Singh
Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, India
| Date of Submission | 15-Mar-2021 |
| Date of Decision | 03-Feb-2022 |
| Date of Acceptance | 07-Feb-2022 |
| Date of Web Publication | 17-Nov-2022 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Bineeta Kashyap
Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijstd.ijstd_23_21
How to cite this article:
Kashyap B, Saha R, Saini V, Singh NP. Conventional versus reverse testing algorithm for syphilis in high-risk population: A diagnostic dilemma. Indian J Sex Transm Dis 2022;43:233-4 |
How to cite this URL:
Kashyap B, Saha R, Saini V, Singh NP. Conventional versus reverse testing algorithm for syphilis in high-risk population: A diagnostic dilemma. Indian J Sex Transm Dis [serial online] 2022 [cited 2023 Sep 28];43:233-4. Available from: https://ijstd.org/text.asp?2022/43/2/233/361313 |
Sir,
The archaic disease of syphilis has been elaborately studied for decades. The underlying immunological response to Treponema pallidum and related species forms the basis of the serological tests used in present-day diagnosis of syphilis. The estimated global burden of 17.7 million cases and 5.6 million new syphilis infections per year merely underscores the magnitude of the disease.[1] Syphilis incidence rates ranging from 5.4 per 100 persons each year in sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics to a prevalence of 21.9% in long-distance truck drivers have been documented by several authors.[2],[3] Concentionally, the diagnosis of syphilis employs a nontreponemal test such as rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test, followed by specific treponemal tests such as Treponnema pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPHA) and fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption to establish the diagnosis of syphilis. However, alternative testing schemes are available that involve a preliminary treponemal assay, followed by reflex quantitative nontreponemal testing.[4] Both these diagnostic algorithms carry their unique merits and constraints and there is no universally recognized testing sequence for diagnosing syphilis.[5] The scenario is further complicated by the rising trend of co-infections such as HIV and syphilis, among STIs. With over two decades of acquaintance with syphilis-HIV co-infection, the immune interference of syphilis with other STIs is poorly understood.[6] The seldom encountered prozone phenomenon while testing for syphilis in HIV/AIDS patients, often challenges the competency of traditional syphilis testing algorithms in screening these high-risk populations. In the present study, we attempt to compare the adequacy of conventional and reverse algorithms to optimally diagnose syphilis in high-risk population.
Serum samples from 80 consecutive symptomatic STI and antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic attendees were evaluated over a period of 3 months to assess the performance of the conventional and reverse algorithms. Two separate microbiologists, blinded to each other's findings, independently assessed both the algorithms. The conventional algorithm used RPR (RPR Card Test/Carbogen Antigen for syphilis testing [Tulip Diagnostics Goa, India]) followed by T. pallidum hemagglutination assay (IMMUTREP TPHA kit of Omega Diagnostics Ltd., Scotland, United Kingdom), while reverse algorithm employed an immunochromatographic format (Medsource Ozone Biochemicals Pvt Ltd., India) for IgG and IgM against T. pallidum, followed by RPR for diagnosis. Statistical agreement analysis was done using SPSS software.
The conventional algorithm detected syphilis in 5 (6.2%) cases, while the reverse algorithm diagnosed one additional patient apart from the above 5, thus resulting yielding a positivity of 6 (7.5%) cases in the same group of patients. The percentage agreement between the two algorithms was 98.75% and the Cohen's κ coefficient was 0.906. The high concordance among the findings of the conventional and reverse algorithms offers an appealing alternative for detecting syphilis in high-risk population. The unusual immune response to syphilis in immunocompromised patients has always eluded many clinicians. A multitude of plausible interpretations of the specific treponemal and nontreponemal tests add to the perplexity in diagnosis. The relative lag in humoral immune response, especially in patients suffering from HIV/AIDS, daunts the diagnosis in very early and latent stages of syphilis. As reflected in the higher detection rates of syphilis using a reverse algorithm in high-risk population, the reverse algorithm not only provides an appealing diagnostic strategy in terms of diagnosis of early/latent infection, relative ease, low false negativity, and the potential for automation, but its utility in optimally diagnosing missed cases of syphilis among targeted high-risk population solicits further deliberation.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
 References | |  |
| 1. | Newman L, Rowley J, Vander Hoorn S, Wijesooriya NS, Unemo M, Low N, et al. Global estimates of the prevalence and incidence of four curable sexually transmitted infections in 2012 based on systematic review and global reporting. PLoS One 2015;10:e0143304.  |
| 2. | Khan S, Menezes GA, Dhodapkar R, Harish BN. Seroprevalence of syphilis in patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Southern India. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2014;4:995-7. |
| 3. | Gawande AV, Vasudeo ND, Zodpey SP, Khandait DW. Sexually transmitted infections in long distance truck drivers. J Commun Dis 2000;32:212-5. |
| 4. | Dunseth CD, Ford BA, Krasowski MD. Traditional versus reverse syphilis algorithms: A comparison at a large academic medical center. Pract Lab Med 2017;8:52-9. |
| 5. | Morshed MG. Current trend on syphilis diagnosis: Issues and challenges. Adv Exp Med Biol 2014;808:51-64. |
| 6. | Zetola NM, Klausner JD. Syphilis and HIV infection: An update. Clin Infect Dis 2007;44:1222-8. |
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