A fluorescent technique for demonstrating treponemes in films made from suspected chacres.

Abstract

A fluorescent technique for demonstrating treponemes in films made from suspected chancres is described. Essen- tially, this is a reversal of the fluorescent treponemal anti- body (FTA-200) test (Wilkinson and Rayner, 1966). The method has been found to be a satisfactory substitute for dark-ground examination of chancre fluid. As in the dark-ground examination method the technique aims to do no more than demonstrate treponemes morphologically indistinguishable from Treponema pallidum. It has the advantage, however, of enabling the medical practitioner, who has no facilities to carry out a dark- ground examination in the surgery, to prepare a slide from a suspected chancre, fix it, and send it to the laboratory for examination.