There is no specific reference value for syphilis spirochete-specific antibodies, and the results are generally expressed as positive and negative, which can be combined with non-specific antibodies to determine the presence or absence of current infection.
When the body is infected with the syphilis spirochete, it can stimulate the body to produce both specific and non-specific antibodies. Specific antibodies, once produced, do not disappear and can be positive for life, while non-specific antibodies are usually produced when the infection is present. Normal people are negative for syphilis-specific antibodies.
When non-specific antibodies are positive, specific antibodies are usually also positive, suggesting current infection with S. syphilis; if only specific antibodies are positive and non-specific antibodies are negative, suggesting previous infection.
Therefore, clinicians need to combine both specific and non-specific antibodies to make a comprehensive judgment.