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Ask the Experts about Opportunistic Infections

 

Blood work
Sep 20, 2001

Why would your doctor have you getting bloodwork that reads. FTA-ABS-IgG or FTA-ABS-IGM.

What does it mean?

Response from Dr. Feinberg

An FTA-ABS is a blood test for syphilis. IgM looks for recent infection and IgG looks for longer-standing, established infection. Sometimes syphilis can be associated with a wide range of symptoms and problems that people do not usually associate with an STD. Since syphilis is readily treated with antibiotics, it's a good idea to know whether someone is infected or not.



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