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Reagin Abs are specific to syphilis.
a-true
b-false

User Wilcar
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Reagin antibodies are not specific to syphilis, making the statement about their specificity false; confirmatory treponemal tests are needed for precise diagnosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

Reagin antibodies (Abs) are nonspecific to syphilis, which means the statement 'Reagin Abs are specific to syphilis' is false. Reagin Abs, detected using tests like the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) and rapid plasma reagin (RPR), are for lipid antigens that can be produced during a syphilis infection but are not exclusive to it. These nontreponemal tests can result in false-positive results because these antibodies can also be present in other conditions. Therefore, confirmatory testing using treponemal tests, which look for antibodies specific to the Treponema pallidum antigens, is necessary to accurately diagnose syphilis.

User Joeri
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