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The VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) / RPR (Rapid Plasma Reagin) test is a non-treponemal serological screening test...
Also known as: VDRL Test · RPR Test · Syphilis Test · Treponemal Serology · STI Screening Test
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*Inclusive of home collection charges
The VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) / RPR (Rapid Plasma Reagin) test is a non-treponemal serological screening test for syphilis — a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The test detects reagin antibodies produced by the immune system in response to the lipid material released during T. pallidum infection and tissue damage. It is a rapid, cost-effective first-line syphilis screen — positive results require confirmation with treponemal-specific tests (TPHA, FTA-ABS). VDRL is mandatory in antenatal care and blood donation screening in India. No fasting required.
Key benefits of this package include:
What Does the VDRL / RPR Test (Syphilis Screening) Measure?
| Level / Result | Possible Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Non-Reactive (Negative) | No active syphilis — no reagin antibodies detected (does not exclude very early primary syphilis before antibody formation) |
| Reactive — Low titre (1:1 to 1:4) | Low-level reagin — possible early syphilis, treated syphilis, or biological false positive; confirmatory treponemal test required |
| Reactive — High titre (1:8 to 1:32 or higher) | Active syphilis likely — secondary syphilis or untreated latent syphilis; confirmatory testing and treatment evaluation required |
| 4-fold titre fall after treatment (e.g., 1:16 to 1:4) | Successful treatment response — continue monitoring; VDRL may remain weakly reactive for years (serofast reaction) |
| Rising titre in treated patient | Treatment failure or re-infection — specialist evaluation and re-treatment required |
Important Note: VDRL/RPR is a sensitive but not specific syphilis test — biological false positives occur in: pregnancy, autoimmune diseases (SLE, antiphospholipid syndrome), viral infections (HIV, EBV, hepatitis), malaria, TB, intravenous drug use, and elderly patients. A reactive VDRL must always be confirmed with a specific treponemal test (TPHA or FTA-ABS) before treatment is initiated. A non-reactive VDRL does not exclude very early primary syphilis (the chancre stage, before antibody development). All positive results must be reviewed by a physician.
Congenital Syphilis — Why Antenatal Screening Is Critical: Untreated syphilis in pregnancy passes to the foetus via the placenta — particularly from the second trimester onwards. Congenital syphilis causes stillbirth, premature birth, and in liveborn infants: deafness, bone abnormalities, hepatosplenomegaly, anaemia, skin lesions, and — in late-onset congenital syphilis — interstitial keratitis, Hutchinson's teeth, and saddle nose deformity. All of these consequences are completely preventable with a single course of benzathine penicillin in the mother — but only if syphilis is detected through antenatal VDRL screening. This is why VDRL testing at the first antenatal visit is mandatory in India.
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Screens for anaemia, infections, and immune health
