Government Services

Evaluation of Serologie Tests for Syphilis  The U. S. Public Health Service announces that a comparative test of the relative value of serologic procedures for the diagnosis of syphilis is to be made within a few months. In cooperation with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, the Public Health Service will collect specimens of blood from at least 1,000 persons and distribute comparable specimens to the laboratories of serologists who have described an original modification of a complement fixation or precipitation test for the diagnosis of syphilis. After all laboratory reports have been submitted by participating serologists, a committee of five members consisting of two specialists in clinical syphilology, two members of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and one officer of the U. S. Public Health Service will interpret the results on the basis of clinical observations. Collection of specimens will begin about December 1 and a number of serologists will be asked to participate.