ABSTRACT
The fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test used with fractionated serum (FTA-ABS 19s IgM test) was evaluated as a test for congenital syphilis. From 1994 to 1995, 32 high-risk infants of mothers with untreated or inadequately treated syphilis and eight adults with primary or secondary syphilis were studied. The FTA-ABS 19s IgM was positive in 6 of 13 symptomatic babies (46 percent) with was a better rate than that given by the older method (38 percent), but only one adult gave a positive test (17 percent). This test was negative in all 50 controls studied, so the specificity was 100 percent. Although a negative FTA-ABS 19s IgM cannot be used to rule out congenital syphilis, a positive test should confirm suspected cases. The clinical features of congenital syphilis, as well as other laboratory investigations, re also discussed.