Preliminary Evaluation of an Immunochromatographic Strip Test for Specific Treponema pallidum Antibodies

We evaluated a prototype immunochromatographic strip (ICS) test for qualitative detection of Treponema pallidum antibodies in 353 sera from 157 patients. For sera from 43 syphilis patients, the ICSs were reactive, while for sera from 114 patients without syphilis, including 22 with biologically false-positive Rapid Plasma Reagin test results, the ICSs were nonreactive. The ICS test may expand the available options for serological testing for syphilis.