Testing for Treponema pallidum, the causative agent for syphilis, can be performed using either the traditional method or the reverse sequence screening method. An initial workup for syphilis includes either a nontreponemal screening assay followed by a confirmatory treponemal test (traditional sequence), or an automated treponemal test followed by a confirmatory nontreponemal test (reverse sequence). In the reverse sequence, discordant results must be confirmed by another treponemal test.

See ARUP Lab Tests below.