What is the VDRL Test and its Normal Range?

The VDRL full form is Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test, which is a blood test used to detect syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection. Syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection (STI), is a common health concern in recent times. The bacterium Treponema pallidum is usually responsible for causing this. Therefore, health researchers have developed the VDRL test to determine if you have this condition.

The test is commonly used for screening, diagnosis, and monitoring treatment effectiveness. Are you worried about having syphilis and trying to get it verified with a VDRL test? This article will give you a complete guide about its procedure and risks.

The full form of the VDRL test is the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test. A standard blood test used in healthcare settings, the VDRL test, helps to identify the presence of syphilis in your body. This test does not look for bacteria that causes this condition but instead looks for the antibodies that your body makes while responding to the antigens produced to damage the bacteria. Your immune system produces these antibodies to fight against bacteria and toxins.

When doctors conduct this test, it helps them confirm if you have this disease. For example, if you have the following symptoms of syphilis, doctors are more likely to suggest this test.

• Small areas of a painless sore
• Swollen lymph nodes near the sore
• Non-itchy skin rashes

Thus, if you wonder what a VDRL test means, it is a nontreponemal test mainly used to confirm the infection with a treponemal test specific to syphilis. Doctors conduct the examination either through blood or the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). Now, if you wonder about the procedure of a VDRL test, it is done in two ways, as described below.

• Blood test: A healthcare professional will draw blood from your vein and send it for testing in a lab. If the results show that syphilis has spread to your brain, the doctor will also test your spinal fluid.
• CSF collection: Healthcare professionals use a lumbar puncture or spinal tap for collecting CSF. Once you lie down, the professional will insert a spinal needle into your lower spine and extract a small quantity of CSF. They will then send it for testing.

The main aim of the VDRL test is to screen for syphilis, especially during its onset stages, and early detection is important in order to effectively treat and prevent complications.

1. Treatment Monitoring

Additionally, it monitors the progress of treatment for syphilis. When antibody levels are reduced, this reflects that the particular treatment is working, but if levels remain stagnant or increase, this indicates a poor response to therapy.

2. Identifying Congenital Syphilis

The test can also be used to detect syphilis among newborns whose mothers have this disease. Early identification helps prevent serious consequences and ensures timely intervention.

3. Testing for Neurosyphilis

Occasionally, neurosyphilis may require evaluation using a VDRL test since it is a severe form of infection that affects the nervous system, and cerebrospinal fluid can be tested to confirm this condition.

4. Assessing Neurosyphilis

In some cases, the VDRL test is used to assess neurosyphilis, a severe form of the disease affecting the nervous system. It can be performed on cerebrospinal fluid to diagnose this condition.

Although a universally obligatory procedure in every pregnancy is not, it is usually included in the prenatal screening package. This test is utilised to identify syphilis that has serious consequences for both the mother and the child if left untreated.

By detecting syphilis early using the VDRL test it enables timely treatment, thereby reducing the chances of newborn complications such as congenital syphilis or other health issues. As a result, healthcare providers may order this test as part of regular antenatal care to guarantee a healthy pregnancy and stop transmission.

No preparation is needed for a VDRL test. Also, there are no drinking or eating requirements before taking the test. However, informing your healthcare provider about any current medications or symptoms is advisable. Ensure that you follow any specific instructions your healthcare provider gives for accurate results.

The VDRL exam usually requires a blood specimen to be checked for antibodies. It is a multi-step process that guarantees syphilis detection accuracy.

Step1: Preparation

Patients may be advised not to take particular drugs or food before the test. Adhering to these recommendations is critical for accurate results.

Step 2: Blood Sample Collection

A healthcare provider extracts a blood sample from a vein, often the arm; this takes only a few seconds and does not hurt much.

Step 3: Sample Handling

They put the collected blood in containers labelled with their names. This should be done carefully to prevent contamination or improper storage.

Step 4: Laboratory Testing

This sample will then be forwarded to the laboratory for analysis, where reagents are added to blood samples to detect if certain antibodies exist in syphilis.

Step 5: Result Analysis

The lab examines the reactions between the sample and reagent. If it is positive, it shows that there are antibodies present, indicating syphilis infection.

Step 6: Reporting Results

The results shall be reviewed by a healthcare professional who will interpret them. Confirmatory tests must follow positive results for accurate diagnosis.

After you have had a VDRL test, take these steps to ensure proper care and interpretation of results. They will help keep you in charge of your health and enable you to navigate possible outcomes well.

1. Wait for Results

Just wait for the results, which typically take three or four days. Be sure to follow up with your healthcare provider for an accurate interpretation.

2. Consult with Your Doctor

Discuss the findings with your doctor, especially if the result is positive. They may require further testing or treatment as needed.

3. Follow-Up Testing

Confirmatory tests such as RPR or FTA-ABS might be necessary if VDRL is positive. These tests provide information on syphilis presence and stages.

4. Initiate Treatment

Comply with the prescribed treatment plan if diagnosed with syphilis. This is because early treatment is vital in complications and disease transmission.

5. Notify Sexual Partners

Tell any people who have recently had sex that they are affected by this infection, too. If they get tested, it will help them get treated.

6. Schedule Regular Check-Ups

Plan regular checkups with your doctor; Follow-up appointments should be made regularly for effective treatment.

While a VDRL test is accurate, sometimes it might generate false-positive and false-negative results. A past survey in 2016 shows among 1926 patients, about 52 of them had genuinely positive results, and 11 had false-positive reports. In some cases, a VDRL test report might be positive even in the absence of syphilis. Other infections and health conditions might trigger a positive result. For example, you might receive a positive report if you suffer from the following conditions.

• Lupus
• Infectious mononucleosis
• Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
• Leprosy
• Hepatitis A
• Malaria
• Tuberculosis
• IV drug use
• Lyme disease

Occasionally, if you take a VDRL test during pregnancy, you can end up receiving a positive report, even in the absence of syphilis. Therefore, it is advisable to conduct additional diagnoses even after receiving a positive VDRL test report.

In some cases, your body may fail to produce antibodies even if you have a syphilis infection. As a result, the VDRL test will not detect it. Moreover, the antibodies can continue to stay even after you have completed your syphilis treatment. In such conditions, this test can produce false-negative reports.

The accuracy of the VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) test varies, although it is useful for syphilis screening. This kind of test does not involve treponemal testing; thus, positive results imply that there are antibodies against T.pallidum, which other types of bacteria could also cause, but in this case, the syphilis bacteria.

Nevertheless, while helpful in detecting possible infections like syphilis, VDRL testing can often lead to false positive results due to different factors, such as other illnesses. False-negative results also occur mainly during the early stages of the illness. Confirmatory tests involving treponemal examinations are the best way to have an accurate diagnosis.

The price of a VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) test varies depending on the place and healthcare provider. However, it is generally among the least costly diagnostic tests.

Though prices may vary depending on the location of the health facility and whether it is done in public or private hospitals, costs range from ₹750 to ₹1,600 in many parts.

Out-of-pocket costs might be affected by insurance. However, it is important to consult your healthcare provider or laboratory for precise cost information.

Now that you know why a VDRL test is done, you must be worried about its possible risks. It is safe to say that there are no significant risks associated with this test. However, you might face the following mild complications after a blood VDRL test.

• Pain near the injection site
• Bruising or bleeding in the injection site
• Dizziness and light-headedness

If you undergo a lumbar puncture, on the other hand, the following risks might apply to you if you undergo a lumbar puncture.

• A mild or severe headache
• Lower back pain
• Pain in the leg
• Bleeding or infections in the injection site 
• Numbness or tingling in the lower back or legs

Syphilis sounds like a life-threatening disease, but it can be curable. However, proper treatment is essential from the very beginning. You should immediately take a VDRL test when you feel the symptoms. If you leave it untreated, syphilis can cause significant harm to multiple organs. While this test might not be completely accurate, it is an effective way to determine if you might have the infection and thereby begin a preliminary treatment.

Therefore, as you can see, a VDRL test can help identify the chances of syphilis infection. It is mainly conducted once you start getting the symptoms, and doctors do it either by testing blood or CSF. Even though it might generate false-positive or false-negative results, this test is preferred for detecting such conditions in the healthcare sector.