• Alopecia
• Acniform eruptions
• Benign tumors
• Bullous diseases
• Dermoscopy
• Nevi, melanoma
• Nonmelanoma cancer
• Psoriasis and others
• Stds
• Vascular tumors
• Vulvar disease

• Herpes simplex
• Genital Herpes Simplex Introduction STD
• Genital Herpes Simplex Risk factors and Rate of Transmission
• Previous HSV type 1 infection
• Genital Herpes Simplex Primary and Recurrent Infections
• Genital Herpes Simplex Signs and Symptoms
• Genital Herpes Simplex Latency and Reactivation STD
• Genital Herpes Simplex Recurrent Infection STD
• Genital Herpes Simplex Frequency of Recurrence
• Genital Herpes Simplex Anatomic Site
• Genital Herpes Simplex Asymptomatic transmission
• Genital Herpes Simplex Prevention
• Genital Herpes Simplex Laboratory diagnosis
• Genital Herpes Simplex Serology
• Genital Herpes Simplex Testing Pregnant Women
• Genital Herpes Simplex Monogamous Couples
• Genital Herpes Simplex STD Treatment
• Genital Herpes Simplex Daily Treatment Suppressive Therapy
• Genital Herpes Simplex During Pregnancy
• Warts (HPV infection)
• Genital Warts HPV Introduction and Causes STD
• Genital Warts HPV Screening Tests
• Genital Warts HPV Interpretation of Test Results
• Genital Warts HPV The HPV DNA Test
• Genital Warts HPV Lesion and Location
• Genital Warts HPV Lesion Types STD
• Genital Warts HPV Subclinical Lesions
• Genital Warts HPV Bowenoid Papulosis STD
• Genital Warts HPV Clinical Evaluation STD
• Genital Warts HPV Differential diagnosis
• Genital Warts HPV Treatment STD
• Genital Warts HPV Treatment Approach to Therapy
• Molluscum Contagiosum
• Molluscum Contagiosum STD Introduction
• Molluscum Contagiosum Clinical manifestations
• Molluscum Contagiosum Diagnosis
• Molluscum Contagiosum Treatment
• Syphilis
• Syphilis Epidemiology STD
• Syphilis Treponema Pallidum
• Syphilis Causes STD
• Incubating Syphilis
• Secondary Syphilis STD
• Syphilis Latency
• Congenital Syphilis
• Early Congenital Syphilis
• Late Congenital Syphilis
• Syphilis Laboratory Diagnosis
• Syphilis Serologic Tests
• Syphilis Nontreponemal Reaginic Tests
• Syphilis Specific Treponemal Tests
• False-Positive Serologic Test for Syphilis
• Syphilis Treatment STD
• Chancroid
• Chancroid STD Introduction
• Chancroid Clinical presentation
• Chancroid Diagnosis
• Chancroid Treatment STD
• Chancroid Syndromic management
• Lymphogranuloma venereum
• Lymphogranuloma Venereum STD Introduction
• Lymphogranuloma Venereum Clinical features
• Lymphogranuloma Venereum Laboratory diagnosis
• Lymphogranuloma Venereum Treatment
• Donovanosis (granuloma inguinale)
• Donovanosis Granuloma Inguinale STD Introduction
• Donovanosis Granuloma Inguinale STD Clinical apperances
• Donovanosis Granuloma Inguinale STD Diagnostic tests
• Donovanosis Granuloma Inguinale STD Treatment

Syphilis Laboratory Diagnosis

Laboratory diagnosis

Direct Examination for Spirochetes (darkfield examination)

In primary, secondary, and early congenital syphilis, the darkfield examination or immunofluorescence staining of mucocutaneous lesions is the quickest method of making the diagnosis. Darkfield microscopy requires a special microscope and experience. Many laboratories are not equipped to preform this test. Examine serous transudate from moist lesions such as a chancre, condyloma latum, or a mucous patch. The surface of the lesion is cleaned with saline and carefully abraded with dry gauze to avoid bleeding. The serous exudate is squeezed onto a glass slide, covered with a cover slip, and examined with the darkfield microscope. T. pallidum has a corkscrew appearance and moves in a spiraling motion with a characteristic 90 degree undulation about its midpoint. Do not use specimens from the mouth since T. pallidum cannot be easily distinguished from nonpathogenic treponemes.

Biopsy Specimen

The spirochete can sometimes be demonstrated in biopsy materials. A silver stain is most commonly used, but confusion with elastic tissues can occur. Specific immunofluorescence or immunoperoxidase staining of nonfrozen pathologic specimens is now preferred to silver staining.