Nonspecific blood tests for syphilis. Two general types are available: (1) Procedures that identify the presence of a nontreponemal antibody against a lipoidal agent that is generated in response to infection with Treponema pallidum (i.e., a reagin). These tests include the Wassermann, the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory, and the rapid plasma reagin tests. (2) An antibodyspecific test, the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) procedure. Because of a high rate of false-positive findings by the nonspecific antibody tests, diagnosis of syphilitic infection is established by the more accurate FTA test.