One condition that can cause a false-positive VDRL test is which of the following?

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Study for the Success! In Clinical Laboratory Science – Immunology Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question offers hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

One condition that can cause a false-positive VDRL test is which of the following?

Explanation:
The VDRL is a non-treponemal test that uses cardiolipin as the antigen to detect reagin antibodies in serum. These antibodies are not specific to Treponema pallidum, so any condition that raises anti-phospholipid antibodies can produce a reactive result even without syphilis. Systemic lupus erythematosus is a classic example because patients with SLE often have antiphospholipid antibodies that react with cardiolipin in the test, leading to a false-positive VDRL. That’s why a reactive VDRL is followed by a confirmatory treponemal test to distinguish true infection from a false-positive due to antiphospholipid antibodies.

The VDRL is a non-treponemal test that uses cardiolipin as the antigen to detect reagin antibodies in serum. These antibodies are not specific to Treponema pallidum, so any condition that raises anti-phospholipid antibodies can produce a reactive result even without syphilis. Systemic lupus erythematosus is a classic example because patients with SLE often have antiphospholipid antibodies that react with cardiolipin in the test, leading to a false-positive VDRL. That’s why a reactive VDRL is followed by a confirmatory treponemal test to distinguish true infection from a false-positive due to antiphospholipid antibodies.

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