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Tests - VDRL test

Dr LM Nath
Consultant, Community Medicine,
New Delhi

Q: I am 28, male, 79 kg. One year ago I did the VDRL Blood Test repeated again a month earlier. It came out negative as did the WBC, RBC and HGB blood tests. Do I need to go in for HIV testing?

A:The VDRL test is for syphilis. If you were negative for syphilis you do not need to be tested again for syphilis as far as the exposure 3 years ago. However the test for HIV is a seperate test and if you have not been tested for HIV, and you want to know your status a test is necessary. As the exposure was 3 years ago,if the test is negative just one test will suffice as far as HIV is concerned. If by any chance the test is positive, another test will be needed to make sure of the results.