Preliminary study on development of a Point-of-care for the detection of Non-Treponemal Antibodies on Congenital Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can be passed from a mother to fetus through vertical transmission, resulting in severe consequences for the newborn. However, at present, there are no rapid tests available that quantify the level of infection and, as a result, treatment must be monitored through a traditional laboratory. This setting requires complex facilities and trained professionals. Thus, the aim of the study is to evaluate the detection of non-treponemal antibodies in syphilis (VDRL test), by an electrochemical Point-of-care testing, using electrodes made through a low-cost technique and advanced materials. Two different methods of antigen-antibody reaction in different presentations were evaluated (liquid product and immobilized product). Negative and positive control samples were analyzed by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Cyclic Voltammetry (CV). The results suggest that CV with immobilized product is an alternative for differentiating negative and positive samples.