[Modern syphilis serology. Immunology, tests and their validity].

In the immunological chapter the appearance of the antibodies in several stages of the lues infection and the methods of demonstration are described. With the lipoid-antigen reactions and the antigen-specific tests modern lues serology can give an answer to the three important questions: Exists a lues infection? Is the demonstrated lues infection active? Was the treatment successful? To diagnose a lues infection one should carry out the Treponema Pallidum Haemagglutination (TPHA) test as screening reaction; the Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Absorption (FTA-Abs) test should be used for confirmation. The quantitative Cardiolipin Microflocculation test (CMT) decides on the activity of the lues infection and can be used to follow up the effectiveness of treatment. In some cases the Treponema Pallidum Immobilization (TPI) test or the demonstration of the 19S-IgM-antibodies must be used for clarification.