Treponema pallidum hemagglutination test

Trep·o·ne·ma pal·li·dum he·mag·glu·ti·na·tion test

a highly sensitive and specific test for the serologic diagnosis of syphilis; tanned sheep red blood cells are coated with the antigen of T. pallidum and, after absorption of nonspecific patient serum antibody, a positive reaction with tanned sheep red blood cells and patient serum indicates the presence of specific antibody for T. pallidum in patient serum. Synonym(s): TPHA test

Treponema pallidum hemagglutination test

TPHA test Lab medicine A nonspecific serologic test for syphilis, in which the Pt's serum is incubated with tanned sheep RBCs previously coated with T pallidum antigens; if syphilis is present, tanned RBCs agglutinate