Sexually transmitted diseases
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The laboratory diagnosis of neurosyphilis rests upon identifying cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) abnormalities, including CSF-Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) reactivity. The CSF-VDRL may not be available in the parts of the world where neurosyphilis is most common. Treponemal immunochromatographic strip tests (ICSTs) have been developed as point-of-care tests on blood for syphilis diagnosis in resource-limited settings. ⋯ Cerebrospinal fluid treponemal ICSTs hold promise for point-of-care neurosyphilis diagnosis in regions where the CSF-VDRL is not available. Further study should address the performance of CSF ICSTs in resource-limited settings.