Studies on the fluorescent treponemal antibody (FTA) test.

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Abstract
The results of the Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody (FTA) and Treponema Pallidum Immobilization (TPI) tests were compared with over 3500 sera. Detailed analysis of the data revealed that the 2 tests showed an overall agreement in 89.5%. When sera give positive results with the FTA, Reiter protein complement fixation and reaginic tests, further confirmation by the TPI test is unnecessary. A negative FTA test makes treponemal infection unlikely, but does not exclude it, and a TPI test may be requred in such cases. The FTA test detected 2 separate antibodies, a group anti-treponemal antibody which can be removed by absorption with Reiter treponemes, and an antibody specific for T. pallidum which is left after such absorption.