VDRL (Syphilis Screening) Test

VDRL, which stands for Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test, is a blood test used to screen for syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.

Rather than detecting the bacteria itself, VDRL detects antibodies your body produces against substances released by damaged cells during infection, making it what's known as a non-treponemal test — sensitive for screening but not entirely specific to syphilis alone.

Because certain other conditions, including some autoimmune diseases, pregnancy, and even certain infections, can occasionally cause a false-positive VDRL result, a reactive result is typically confirmed with a more specific treponemal antibody test before a diagnosis is finalized.

VDRL remains widely used for routine syphilis screening, particularly during pregnancy, since untreated syphilis in pregnant women can cause serious complications for the developing baby.