VDRL Test: Full Form, Meaning, and Test Result.
Medically Reviewed By
Dr. Geetanjali Gupta
Written By Muskan Taneja
on Dec 10, 2024
Last Edit Made By Muskan Taneja
on Jul 19, 2025
Studies found that around 6% of the Indian adult population has sexually transmitted infections (STIs); roughly 6 out of every 100 sexually active adults in India have STIs.
Syphilis is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can lead to severe health complications if not treated immediately.
A VDRL test for syphilis is the first step in determining the presence of infection. Today’s blog will provide detailed information about the VDRL test.
What is the VDRL Test?
India has a significant prevalence of syphilis, which raises the need for the VDRL test.
In its full form, VDRL is a Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test, a routine blood test that identifies syphilis infections.
The VDRL blood test measures proteins or antibodies produced in response to syphilis-causing bacteria.
Purpose of the VDRL Test
The VDRL test's main purpose is to screen for syphilis. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI), which is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.
A VDRL test does not directly locate the T. pallidum bacterium; instead, it locates the number of antibodies or proteins produced to fight against the bacterium in the blood.
Some healthcare providers recommend testing in the CSF as well. A CSF test procedure involves adding a mixture of lipids called reagin. If the VDRL SCF test shows clumping, it indicates the presence of syphilis infection.
Uses of VDRL Test
The VDRL test detects antibodies in the blood that are produced in response to an infection caused by Treponema pallidum, the bacterium responsible for syphilis. The VDRL test is also used for
- Screening during pregnancy: The test is important for pregnant women to prevent the transmission of syphilis to the unborn child, which can lead to serious complications like stillbirth, prematurity, or congenital syphilis.
- Monitoring treatment effectiveness: The VDRL test can be used to track the progress of syphilis treatment. Low antibody levels indicate that the treatment is working.
- Confirming reinfection or relapse: After successful treatment, the VDRL test helps to detect if the infection has recurred.
Why is the VDLR test important?
The VDLR test helps diagnose syphilis, an STI caused by the Treponema pallidum bacteria. It detects antibodies in the blood that are produced in response to the infection.
Here are a few reasons why the VDLR test is important:
- Syphilis can be asymptomatic in its initial stages; the test helps to know if you are infected with it. The VDLR test helps detect the disease early, even before symptoms appear.
- Untreated syphilis can cause serious health complications, including damage to organs like the brain, heart, and nerves. The VDLR test helps identify the infection early to prevent these long-term effects.
- The VDLR test allows early treatment of the disease. Your doctor can provide you with the proper medication and treatment to cure syphilis. This decreases the risk of transmitting the disease to others.
- The VDLR test is used as part of routine screenings for people who are at higher risk for syphilis, such as pregnant women, men who have sex with men, and individuals with multiple sexual partners.
When is the VDRL Test recommended?
The VDRL test is recommended for the following conditions:
- To pregnant women, to de-routine STI screening
- If you are suspected of syphilis
- Screening before blood donation
When to see a Doctor?
Studies believe certain factors contribute highly toward syphilis infection. Based on that, they can recommend the syphilis test to:
- Men who have sex with men
- Pregnant women
- People living with HIV
- People who have recently been treated for syphilis
- People who might have been exposed to T. pallidum bacterium
- People who have recently received treatment for another STI
- People involved in unprotected sex
- People who have symptoms of syphilis
Symptoms of Syphilis
There are commonly three stages of syphilis infection: early, secondary, and late, where each stage carries different symptoms.
Let’s look at the symptoms of syphilis.
-
Early Stage: During the early stage, you only experience a small and painless sore on the genitals, anus, rectum, or mouth.
-
Secondary Stage: The secondary stage is the mediocre level, where symptoms appear within 3-6 weeks of the syphilis infection. You may experience:
-
Mild fever
-
Sore throat
-
Weight loss
-
Headache
-
Muscle pain
-
Swollen glands
-
Fatigue
-
Body rash
- Last Stage: This is the last and major stage, where the syphilis infection can damage the nervous system, heart, brain, and other body organs.
Check out this blog to know more about STI symptoms https://redcliffelabs.com/myhealth/womens-reproductive-health/sexually-transmitted-diseases-std-symptoms-of-std-in-men-and-women/
Preparation for the VDRL Test
The VDRL test does not require special preparation. You can eat and drink as usual before the test. However, your doctor may recommend fasting after monitoring your current health condition.
The procedure of the VDRL Test
The VDRL test is a blood test. The healthcare provider or phlebotomist will collect blood from the vein in your arm.
- He will first clean the arm area with an alcohol-based antiseptic solution to reduce the risk of infection.
- He will then tie a tourniquet on the upper arm to make the veins more visible.
- He will insert a needle into the vein to collect a small amount of blood into a sterile collection tube.
- After the blood sample is collected, it is sent to the laboratory for processing.
- The test results will be provided within 10 hours of sample collection.
Risks Associated with the VDRL Test
The VDRL test is a simple blood test requiring blood from a sterile syringe, which is later transferred to check for analysis. To draw blood, you can face minor health complications, such as
- Bruising
- Slight bleeding
- Fainting
- There is a slight risk of skin infection
- Minor pain or discomfort
- Hematoma or blood pooling under the skin
- Lightheadedness
- Several puncture site
Risk of False-Negative VDRL Result
- In the early stages of syphilis, the VDRL test may not detect syphilis antibodies. This can result in false-negative results.
- False negatives can also happen if the person has a low titer of antibodies.
Your doctor may recommend further tests if your VDRL test is positive.
Understanding the VDRL Test Result
The VDRL test results are classified as non-reactive or reactive, where non-reactive means negative, while reactive means positive. Here is a reference range of VDRL test results
|
VDRL Test Result |
Reference Range |
Interpretation |
|
Reactive |
Titers of more than 1:8 |
Indicate the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies working against non-treponemal antigens |
|
Non-reactive |
Not reported |
Shows there is no presence of IgG and IgM antibodies |
Risk of False-Positive VDRL Result
If you are booking the VDRL test from a renowned diagnostic laboratory like Redcliffe Labs, you should worry about the accuracy. Redcliffe Labs provides 100% report correctness.
The VDRL test result can show a false-negative if you’ve had syphilis for less than three months because your body takes almost three months to produce antibodies.
Reason for false-positive VDRL test results:
- Malaria
- Lyme disease
- HIV
- Pneumonia
- IV drug use
- Tuberculosis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
Key Takeaways
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection, and a VDRL test can help detect its presence. The VDRL test locates the presence of T. pallidum bacterium by identifying the antibodies and proteins produced to fight against the infection.
The VDRL test means Venereal Disease Research Laboratory Test, which is a screening test performed on people who may have syphilis-related antibodies.
If you have recently come in sexual contact with anyone or believe you are at risk of catching STI, take the VDRL test and prevent the risk of complications. Redcliffe Labs, an omnichannel PAN India diagnostics service provider, offers the VDRL test at INR 229 with a home sample collection service, making it affordable and accessible.
FAQs
1. What is the purpose of the VDRL Test?
The VDRL test screens for syphilis by detecting antibodies produced in response to the infection. It identifies early syphilis, monitors disease progression, and assesses treatment effectiveness.
2. What is the problem if VDRL is positive?
A positive VDRL test means syphilis infection, but your doctor may recommend follow-up tests (e.g., FTA-ABS) to confirm syphilis. False positives can occur due to other conditions like autoimmune diseases, pregnancy, or infections.
3. What if a VDRL test is reactive?
If a VDRL test is reactive, it indicates a syphilis infection, which further requires confirmatory testing. A reactive result is followed by specific tests like FTA-ABS or TP-PA to confirm syphilis.
4. What are the symptoms of VDRL syphilis?
Syphilis may cause symptoms like painless sores (chancres) at the infection site, rashes, swollen lymph nodes, fever, sore throat, etc.
5. What is the full form of VDRL in pregnancy?
The full form of VDRL in pregnancy is the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test. It is a screening tool used to detect syphilis in pregnant women.
6. Do I need to fast before the test?
No, you don't need to fast before the VDRL test.
7. How long do the VDRL test results take?
The VDRL test results will be available within 10 hours at Redcliffe Labs. However, the time may vary from lab to lab.
