The word "VDRL" is commonly used in medical terminology to refer to a diagnostic test that detects syphilis. The spelling of this word is based on the acronym of the four substances it uses, which are Venereal Disease Research Laboratory. The pronunciation of "VDRL" is /viː diː ɑːr ɛl/, with the stress on the first syllable. The IPA phonetic transcription of "VDRL" is [vi di ɑr ɛl], where "vi" is pronounced as "vee," "ɑr" as "ar," and "ɛl" as "el."
VDRL stands for Venereal Disease Research Laboratory, which is a blood test used to diagnose or screen for syphilis. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The VDRL test is an important tool for identifying the presence of this bacterium in the human body.
The VDRL test is a nontreponemal test, meaning it detects antibodies produced by the body in response to the infection rather than directly identifying the bacteria. This test measures the level of antibodies, particularly immunoglobulin (IgM and IgG), which are produced by the immune system in reaction to Treponema pallidum.
The procedure involves taking a small amount of blood from a vein, which is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. During the test, a sample of the patient's blood is mixed with a reagent containing cardiolipin, a substance that reacts with the antibodies produced in syphilis infections. If the VDRL test produces a positive result, it indicates the presence of syphilis antibodies and suggests an active or past infection.
It is important to note that a positive VDRL test does not confirm the diagnosis of syphilis, as false positives are possible. Thus, it is often followed up with confirmatory tests like the Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) test or the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test. Additionally, the VDRL test may also be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment in individuals diagnosed with syphilis.