Common "Vdrl Test" queries answered by top doctors | iCliniq

Vdrl Test

Venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) is a blood test for syphilis developed by a laboratory of the same name. The test detects the presence of antibodies in the blood and so, is used as a screening test.

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I have a bump on my penis. When to test for HIV?

Query: Hi doctor, From the last one and a half months, I am in crisis. I tried having sex six months back. That day I did not get erections so she gave me oral. I did not perform vaginal sex because of non-erection, and whatever I have tried that was protected. But I had unprotected oral sex where she gave...  Read Full »


Dr. Sushil Kakkar

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have noted your concern and I have viewed the attachments (attachment removed to protect patient identity).Insertive oral sex has a negligible risk of transmission of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). Moreover, your HIV screening test (p24 Ag and anti-HIV antibody...  Read Full »

I had sex with a sex worker. Will I get HIV?

Query: Hi doctor, I had sex with a c. During sex, she rubbed her vagina against my penis. I felt like the penis entered in her vagina for a moment. Then, I immediately asked to wear a condom. Six weeks after this incident, I had a pain in my right knee. There was no swelling or redness. It resolved in a da...  Read Full »


Dr. Meha Malhotra

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Though joint pain occurs in HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), fever, malaise, and enlarged lymph nodes are more common in the initial stages of HIV. The involvement of a single knee joint seems unlikely. But as you had physical relations with a CSW (commercial sex wo...  Read Full »

What is the painless pimple like swelling above penis area?

Query: Hello doctor, Yesterday onwards I could see one small swelling, seems to be a pimple like one appearing above my penis area. Could you please explain this? I do not have any pain but feeling afraid.  Read Full »


Dr. Ohams Ike Henry

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. The pimple like small swelling you say is not painful and no other similar swelling anywhere else. Was there a history of sexual contact with an unknown woman unprotected prior to the appearance of the lesion, any swellings around your groin, the swelling, is it ulcerated...  Read Full »

Is treponemal test needed three years after sexual contact?

Query: Hi doctor, I have an sexually transmitted disease (STD) question and hope to have an STD specialist doctor to assist me. I had a sexual contact three years ago and only last month I went for (Venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) nontreponemal test) and is negative. I have read online that aft...  Read Full »


Dr. Sushil Kakkar

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Yes, sometimes many years after an infection with Treponema pallidum, venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) may turn negative. TPHA (Treponema pallidum hemagglutination) or FTA ABS (fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test) would be confirmatory in that c...  Read Full »

What to do if I was misdiagnosed with syphilis and treated?

Query: Hi doctor, I am a 24 year old male. Before a month, I visited a hospital in my hometown for pain on the penis. They conducted VDRL and TPHA test and said that the test came back as weak positive. So, it is the first stage of syphilis. They prescribed me an injection and some tablets for five days. A...  Read Full »


Dr. Geetha Priyadarsini Kamminana

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. TPHA (Treponema pallidum hemagglutination) is a test to detect treponemal antibodies, which are produced by the body against the bug that causes syphilis. The point is that TPHA is known to show false positive results for some reasons and hence, any positive reaction ...  Read Full »

Why do I have a lot of bleeding after gay encounters?

Query: Hello doctor,I am a 32-year-old man. I had gay encounters with three men in a massage parlor on three different days. In all three cases, we have used condoms. In my second and third encounters, I got a lot of blood, and that too very dark-colored blood, and something else also came. I had a word wi...  Read Full »


Dr. Ashok Kumar

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I read your query and understand your concerns. First of all, I like to inform you that the transmission of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) requires the mixing of body fluids. The use of condoms effectively prevents such mixing. I understand that there was bleedi...  Read Full »

What could be the cause for the sore on my testis?

Query: Hello doctor, I have a sore on my testis. It is round and bulged with an indent in the middle. When I try and squeeze it, it bleeds but no pus or discharge. I did go to my general physician, and he says it might be a wart, but he is not sure. I would like to get a second opinion.  Read Full »


Dr. Shama Naaz

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. The attached photograph (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity) looks like a genital ulcer. There are different reasons for this. It could be due to bacterial infection, due to some medications, trauma and venereal disease. There are some questions that I...  Read Full »

What do a reactive VDLR test and FTA-ABS test for syphilis indicate?

Query: Hello doctor, I recently took the VDLR test, which was reactive to 1:1 and non-reactive to 1:2. So I took the FTA-ABS test. The result was reactive for IgG and non-reactive for IgM. Every year I do the rapid blood tests (those that prick my finger to take a drop of blood), and they always come back ...  Read Full »


Dr. Samer Sameer Juma Ali Altawil

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I read your query and understand your concern. No, it would be best if you do not seek any treatment now. The serological tests showed no active disease as IgM is negative. IgG is positive because you got this infection before. It is recommended to have this test don...  Read Full »

TPA is high but VDRL is negative. Does it indicate latent syphilis?

Query: Hello doctor, I have been tested for TPA by CLIA and a high titer of 451 was detected. But VDRL is nonreactive. There is a history of unprotected sex three years back with small erosions in genitalia. At that time broad medicines including antibiotics and antifungals were taken without any specific ...  Read Full »


Dr. Dilip Kumar Meena

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. As you have mentioned the TPA (Treponema pallidum antibody assay) is positive and VDRL (venereal disease research laboratory test) is nonreactive. Next step to confirm if you have latent syphilis, you need to get one of the following two tests first. TPHA (Treponem...  Read Full »

What is the conclusion when VDRL positive and RPR negative?

Query: Hello doctor, Actually my friend's wife while checking the VDRL test in the first trimester got a positive result, but her husband got negative at the same time, and the doctor told her to do the RPR test then it is negative. What it means? I have a doubt weather she is positive or negative? Plea...  Read Full »


Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. The VDRL (venereal disease research laboratory test) and RPR (rapid plasma reagin) are a screening tests for syphilis. Some nonspecific antibodies sometime might give false-positive results. Your RPR, however, is negative. So syphilis is less likely. But you cannot ...  Read Full »

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