A NAAT for Syphilis Screening

A new nucleic acid amplification assay enhances rapid plasma reagin screening for syphilis in men who have sex with men.

The past decade has seen a marked increase in the incidence of syphilis in the U.S. and other developed countries (see Physicians First Watch 2018 Sep 26 and CDC; NEJM JW Infect Dis Apr 2019 and MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2019 Feb 15; 68:144; NEJM JW Infect Dis Oct 2017 and Clin Infect Dis 2017; 65:1676). More-effective ways to rapidly diagnose the infection are urgently needed to better control this new epidemic. The use of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) has transformed our ability to rapidly diagnose multiple infections. Researchers have now assessed the utility of either an experimental transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) or a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) NAAT for Treponema pallidum on pharyngeal or rectal samples, add…

Reviewing Author

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

A NAAT for Syphilis Screening

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Reviewing Author