Development of Syphilis Screen & Confirm Assay
CDC Investigator, Dr. Arnold Castro, in collaboration with ChemBio developed the DPP® Syphilis Screen & Confirm Assay. This diagnostic tool is a rapid dual test that can confirm whether a patient has been previously exposed to syphilis and if the infection is active. This point-of-care test offers results that are easy to interpret with a total test time of 20 minutes, giving clinicians an opportunity to initiate treatment immediately within a single visit. The test is a two-step procedure that requires no special equipment and is ideal for field use in developing countries. The DPP Syphilis Screen & Confirm Assay is licensed to ChemBio and is commercially available in 6 countries including Austria, Chile, China, Guatemala, South Africa, and Sweden. CDC holds 10 US and international patents related to this technology.