VDRL
Medical abbreviation · Laboratory Test
| Stands for | Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
VDRL stands for Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test, a laboratory test abbreviation.
Nontreponemal syphilis antibody test, similar to the RPR, named after the US Public Health Service laboratory that developed it. Its main remaining role is testing cerebrospinal fluid, where it is the standard test for neurosyphilis.
Example: CSF VDRL reactive with lymphocytic pleocytosis; IV penicillin for 14 days.
Usage notes
A reactive CSF VDRL is highly specific for neurosyphilis but often negative even when the disease is present, so clinicians interpret it alongside CSF cell count and protein. Blood VDRL and RPR titers cannot be compared directly, so the same test should be used to follow a patient over time.
Related abbreviations
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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.