Syphilis and serologic evaluation of patients. A recurring problem.

Although syphilis is again becoming more prevalent, routine serologic testing for the disease is diminishing. A test such as the VDRL or similar test is useful for general screening. If the test is nonreactive, the probability of the patient having syphilis is minimal. If the screening test is positive, a positive reaction to a Reiter or TPI test indicates a high probability of syphilis. But a negative reaction to these tests is not full assurance of absence of disease.