At Alpha Laboratory, Banur, it's a single blood sample, no fasting, and your report goes to you alone. Call 8872524007 to book.
What the VDRL test checks
VDRL doesn't detect the syphilis bacterium directly. It looks for reagin antibodies, which the body makes in response to tissue damage caused by the infection. Because of this, it's called a non-treponemal test.
The result is reported as reactive or non-reactive, and a reactive sample is diluted step by step to give a titre, such as 1:4 or 1:32. The titre roughly tracks how active the infection is, which makes VDRL useful for watching treatment response.
A reactive VDRL is normally confirmed with a treponemal test such as TPHA, which detects antibodies to the bacterium itself.
Why your doctor may order it
- Antenatal screening, because syphilis can pass to the baby and treatment in pregnancy prevents this.
- A painless sore on the genitals or mouth, a rash on the palms and soles, or swollen glands.
- Screening after a possible sexual exposure, or when another sexually transmitted infection has been found.
- Pre-operative, blood donation, marriage and employment checks.
- Monitoring after treatment, using falling titres.
Syphilis doesn't usually cause the kind of fever that brings people in during the monsoon. For that, doctors turn to the Fever Profile, a dengue test or a typhoid test.
How to prepare
No fasting needed. Tell us if you're pregnant, have an autoimmune condition, or have had syphilis treated before, as all of these affect how the result is read. Bring earlier VDRL reports if you're being monitored.
Sample type and report time
A blood sample from the arm, collected in a plain or gel tube for serum. The report is usually ready the same day if the sample reaches us by about 11 am, and is given only to the patient. Private home sample collection can be arranged on 8872524007.
Understanding your results
- Non-reactive: no reagin antibodies found. Very early infection (the first few weeks) can still test non-reactive.
- Reactive with a titre: suggests syphilis, current or past, and needs a confirmatory treponemal test.
VDRL can be falsely reactive in pregnancy, autoimmune diseases such as lupus, malaria, tuberculosis, some viral infections, after recent vaccination and in older age. These are called biological false positives, usually at low titres. Rarely, very high antibody levels can make the test look falsely negative (the prozone effect), which the lab handles by diluting the sample.
Your doctor reads the VDRL result with the confirmatory test and your history.
FAQ
What is VDRL in a blood test?
It's a screening test for syphilis that looks for reagin antibodies in the blood. A reactive result is confirmed with a second, more specific test.
Is the VDRL test the same as a syphilis test?
VDRL is one type of syphilis test. TPHA and other treponemal tests are the confirmatory ones.
Can VDRL be positive without syphilis?
Yes. Pregnancy, autoimmune conditions and some infections can cause a low-titre false reactive result, which is why confirmation is needed.
Where can I get a VDRL test near me in Banur?
For a VDRL test near me in Banur, walk in to Alpha Laboratory on M.C. Road from 7:00 am, no doctor's slip needed. Ask at the counter privately.
Book at Alpha Laboratory
Alpha Laboratory is at Municipal Committee, M.C. Road, Banur, open Monday to Saturday 7:00 am to 8:00 pm and Sunday until 1:00 pm. For a confidential VDRL test, call 8872524007 or WhatsApp us. Directions are on the contact page.