CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY AND SEROLOGY A
LABORATORY PERSPECTIVE EXAMINATION
TEST 2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ primary (early) syphilis. Answer: inflammatory lesions (chancres)
appear 2-8weeks after infection and last for 1-5 weeks
serum tests for syphilis are positive in 90% of patients after 3 weeks
the antibodies are predominantly IgM
◉ secondary syphilis. Answer: usually occurs 6-8 weeks after the
chancres first appear
characterized by a generalized rash
secondary lesions may develop in the eyes, joints, or CNS
lesions are highly contagious, but heal within 2-6 weeks
serologic tests are positive
,antibodies are mainly IgG
◉ latent stages of syphilis. Answer: contagious and generally
considered to begin after the second year of infection
no clinical symptoms, although serologic tests are still positive
after 4 years, it's not usually contagious but can be passed from
mother to fetus
◉ tertiary syphillis. Answer: characterized by granulomatous lesions
known as gummata
these lesions may develop in skin, mucous membranes, joints,
muscles, and bones, causing little or no clinical problems
◉ tertiary syphillis. Answer: ~80% of patients experience CNS
involvement, which can result in paralysis or dementia
~10% of patients develop CV problems, which can result in aortic
aneurysm
◉ congenital syphills. Answer: can be transmitted to a fetus after
18th week of gestation
, treatment of the infected mother before the 18th week will prevent
infection, treatment after will cure it
◉ syphilis treatment. Answer: drug of choice is penicillin, but can
use tetracycline or erythromycin
treatment may or may not result in serologic tests becoming
nonreactive, depending on the stage of the disease at the time of
treatment
◉ primary stage (syphilis treatment). Answer: a seropositive patient
in the primary stage of disease usually becomes nonreactive ~6
months after treatment
◉ secondary stage (syphilis treatment). Answer: if treatment occurs
during the secondary stage, the patient usually becomes nonreactive
within 12-18 months after treatment
patients treated 10+ years after infection may always remain
seropositive
◉ nontreponemal antibody detection. Answer: reagin antibodies are
formed after exposure to Treponema pallidum and react with
lipoidal antigens used in screening tests for syphilis
LABORATORY PERSPECTIVE EXAMINATION
TEST 2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ primary (early) syphilis. Answer: inflammatory lesions (chancres)
appear 2-8weeks after infection and last for 1-5 weeks
serum tests for syphilis are positive in 90% of patients after 3 weeks
the antibodies are predominantly IgM
◉ secondary syphilis. Answer: usually occurs 6-8 weeks after the
chancres first appear
characterized by a generalized rash
secondary lesions may develop in the eyes, joints, or CNS
lesions are highly contagious, but heal within 2-6 weeks
serologic tests are positive
,antibodies are mainly IgG
◉ latent stages of syphilis. Answer: contagious and generally
considered to begin after the second year of infection
no clinical symptoms, although serologic tests are still positive
after 4 years, it's not usually contagious but can be passed from
mother to fetus
◉ tertiary syphillis. Answer: characterized by granulomatous lesions
known as gummata
these lesions may develop in skin, mucous membranes, joints,
muscles, and bones, causing little or no clinical problems
◉ tertiary syphillis. Answer: ~80% of patients experience CNS
involvement, which can result in paralysis or dementia
~10% of patients develop CV problems, which can result in aortic
aneurysm
◉ congenital syphills. Answer: can be transmitted to a fetus after
18th week of gestation
, treatment of the infected mother before the 18th week will prevent
infection, treatment after will cure it
◉ syphilis treatment. Answer: drug of choice is penicillin, but can
use tetracycline or erythromycin
treatment may or may not result in serologic tests becoming
nonreactive, depending on the stage of the disease at the time of
treatment
◉ primary stage (syphilis treatment). Answer: a seropositive patient
in the primary stage of disease usually becomes nonreactive ~6
months after treatment
◉ secondary stage (syphilis treatment). Answer: if treatment occurs
during the secondary stage, the patient usually becomes nonreactive
within 12-18 months after treatment
patients treated 10+ years after infection may always remain
seropositive
◉ nontreponemal antibody detection. Answer: reagin antibodies are
formed after exposure to Treponema pallidum and react with
lipoidal antigens used in screening tests for syphilis
