Venereal disease research laboratory

The test is looking for evidence of Treponema pallidum, the
bacterium that cau syphilis. Syphilis is a c
transmitted disease. It is easily treated but can cause severe
health problems if left untreated.
The blood test detects the antibodies that the body produces
to combat infection, so a positive test indicates that you have
either a current or past infection. The blood test might not find
antibodies for up to three months after exposure to the
bacteria. In addition, the antibodies remain in the body for
years, so if you have had a past infection with syphilis and
were treated, your test results could still be positive.