What Does This VDRL Test Report Indicate?

Posted on Sun, 6 Nov 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 6 Nov 2016 Answered on

Wed, 30 Nov 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : HI, i just went through VDRL AND TPH test. My report is tph - Weak Reactive-weak and VDRL- Reactive. Quantitative is -REACTIVE IN UNDIL.
CAN YOU PLS TELL ME MY VDRL AND TPH Status. I am very worried about it as i am married and planinig for baby.
will it create problem for pregnancy for my wife?

Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (38 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
As below

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for trusting us with your health concern.
The results point towards syphilis infection.
Please get FTA - ABS test to confirm the diagnosis.
All the best.
Please feel free to discuss further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (14 hours later)

OK i will go for this test but can you tell me about these tests of which reports i sent you earlier in details.. Is it concern of worry? and as i am doing unprotected sex with my wife.. is it OK or not.

Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
As below

Detailed Answer:
Yes I will explain about the test reports.
VDRL is a non specific test for syphilis.
It may come out to be false positive due to various reasons.
TPH is more specific compared to VDRL but that is only weakly reactive, so inconclusive.
Only FTA - ABS will establish the diagnosis for sure, these two tests together indicate a possibility of syphilis, a strong possibility , but do not confirm it.
Do you have any symptoms, why were these tests ordered ?
Yes until you have the TPA - ABS report, you should avoid unprotected sex with your wife, as you may potentially infect her.
Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar