Abstract
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CLINICALLY SUSPECTED SYPHILIS CASES WITH SEROLOGICAL TEST VDRL/RPR & TREPONEMA PALLIDUM HEMAGGLUTINATION ASSAY (TPHA) IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL (SILCHAR MEDICAL COLLEGE & HOSPITAL)

It is observed that syphilis has been the common clinical problem in STI clinics in managing the cases with proper diagnosis. Hence the study has been adopted. By doing commonly, the VDRL/RPR and Treponema Pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPHA) diagnosis can be made. This study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital (Silchar Medical College & Hospital) in the department of Microbiology. The aim of the study was to review serologic data of syphilis patients to determine diagnostic performance of VDRL/RPR test with that of Treponema Pallidum hemagglutination Assay (TPHA). The period of the study is from August 2015 to July 2016. About 5 cc of venous were collected from the clinically suspected cases &serum were separated without any haemolysis. Those sample were tested by VDRL/RPR &Treponema Pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPHA) & comparative study was done regarding the sensitivity & specificity of both the test. RPR test is done using Cardiolipin antigen with 18mm card test of Span Diagnostic Ltd. while TPHA is determined by using the kit of Omega Diagnostic Ltd. About 120 no. of clinically suspected cases of syphilis were taken. Among 120 clinically suspected patients, 56 patients were diagnosed serologically and clinically positive for syphilis. Calculated sensitivity of RPR in compare to that of Treponema Pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPHA) is 75.92%, specificity of RPR is very weak i.e, 96.96%. Positive predictive value found to be 95.34%, while Negative predictive value found to be 83.11%. Accuracy of the test is 87.50%. Treponema Pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPHA) test is gold standard for the diagnosis of syphilis as compared to RPR/VDRL test. TPHA should be performed along with RPR test as no single serological test can act as the marker of acute infection.