Fluorescent treponemal antibody inhibition test.

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Abstract
Three-hundred and-ninety-four selected problem sera were tested by the TPI [Treponema-pallidum Immobilization] test, FTA-200 test, and an inhibition test based on the ability of sera containing anti-treponemal antibodies to block staining of T. pallidum by fluorescein-conjugated syphilitic serum globulins. The inhibition test was found to be more sensitive than the FTA-200 test on this material and to give fewer unexplained positive results. Tests on 144 presumed normal sera were all negative. An extension of the test is described in which group antibody was removed from the conjugated syphilitic globulin reagent; this allows the ability of sera to block the union of specific antibody to be investigated. The results of 409 tests with this modification are presented.