Clinical Information

The FTA-ABS is a specific treponemal assay to detect antibody to T. pallidum. The FTA-ABS becomes reactive 4-6 weeks after infection. Unlike the nontreponemal tests, once the FTA-ABS test becomes reactive, it will remain reactive for many years. Since reactivity found with the FTA-ABS does not indicate response to therapy, it is not suitable for monitoring treatment. The FTA-ABS test does not distinguish between syphilis and other treponematoses such as yaws, pinta and bejil.