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Volume 32, Number 8—August 2026

Dispatch

Detection of Congenital Syphilis via Digital PCR and Next-Generation Sequencing, Colombia

Ana M. Bossa-Castro, Narda M. Olarte EscobarComments to Author , Ismael Alberto Valderrama Márquez, Deisy Abril, Luis Fuentes, Zayda Lorena Corredor-Rozo, Ruth Liliana López Cruz, Sharon Hassbleidy Ochoa Ramírez, José Alejandro Mojica Madera, Pedro José Ramos Cabrera, Jorge Eliecer Castellanos Corredor, Nidia Aydee Garay Bernal, Ana María Gómez Puentes, Carlos Alberto Morales Pertuz, and Javier Escobar-PérezComments to Author 
Author affiliation: Universidad El Bosque, Vicerrectoría de Investigaciones, Bacterial Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Bogota, Colombia (A.M. Bossa-Castro, D. Abril, L. Fuentes, Z.L. Corredor-Rozo, A.M. Gómez Puentes, J. Escobar-Pérez); Subred Integrada de Servicios de Salud Sur E.S.E., Bogota (N.M. Olarte Escobar, I.A. Valderrama Márquez, R.L. López Cruz, S.H. Ochoa Ramírez, J.A. Mojica Madera, P.J. Ramos Cabrera, J.E. Castellanos Corredor, N.A. Garay Bernal, C.A. Morales Pertuz)

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Table

Newborn clinical test results for detection of congenital syphilis via digital PCR and next-generation sequencing, Colombia*

Parameter Patient values CS range (reference)
Blood
Leukocytes, cells/µL 11,090 >35,000 (3,4)
Platelets, cells/µL 137,000 <150,000 (3,4)
AST, U/L 26 >34.46 (3,4)
ALT, U/L <7 >12.35 (3,4)
Total bilirubin, µmol/L 85.33 NA†
Direct bilirubin, µmol/L
 13.33
 >20% of total bilirubin (3,4)
Cerebrospinal fluid
Leukocytes, cells/mm3 3 <15 (3,5)
Erythrocytes, cells/mm3 5 (100% fresh) NA
Proteins 92.2 Premature newborn, <170 (3,5); full-term newborn <30 days of age, <120 (3,5)
Glucose, mg/dL 58 NA
VDRL test Nonreactive Reactive

*ALT, alanine transaminase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; CS, congenital syphilis; NA, not applicable; VDRL, venereal disease research laboratory. †No parameter suggestive of CS has been established.

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References
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