Serology is a blood test often done to identify antibodies in the patient's blood serum and confirm the presence of infection. Syphilis is one of the infectious diseases that can be transmitted sexually, although it can also be transmitted through blood transfusion and from infected mother to fetus. The organism involved is the Treponema pallidum, which can penetrate broken skin and mucous membranes that come in contact with it. When the organism enters the body, the immune system often releases specific antibodies into the blood to fight off the infection. Syphilis serology, therefore is a diagnostic test that can detect the presence of antibodies against syphilis in a person suspected of having the disease.Kanamen said:All applicants seeking permanent residence in Canada, and certain applicants applying for temporary residence, are required to complete an immigration medical examination.
Conducting an Immigration Medical Examination.
In conducting a Canadian immigration medical examination, the DMP performing the examination will undertake the some important following activities.
• Provide a routine appointment for Canadian IMEs
• Verify that the person presenting for examination is the person pictured in Medical Report and ensure that the applicant, or parent/guardian, completes and signs Medical Report
• Carefully review and provide details on the applicant's responses to the questions regarding functional inquiry in Medical Report: Section B (IMM 5419).
• Perform a comprehensive physical and mental examination.
• Provide appropriate age-defined laboratory investigations /Laboratory Requisition
a. urinalysis (protein, glucose and blood by dipstick—if blood positive, then microscopic report required) for applicants five years and over;
b. serological test for syphilis for applicants 15 years and over.
• HIV testing for applicants 15 years of age and over, as well as for those children who have received blood or blood products, have a known HIV-positive mother, or have an identified risk. An ELISA HIV screening test should be done forHIV 1 ,2
Patients with syphilis usually develop lesions in the genital tract, which is often followed by non-specific symptoms like fever, headache, rashes, and joint pains. Most of these patients have a history of sexual intercourse. When doctors suspect a syphilis infection in patients, they may request a syphilis serology test to help in the diagnosis. An adequate amount of blood is then extracted from the patient's arm vein and processed in the laboratory for a syphilis serology test.
Changes to the Immigration Medical Examination Process
Summary
This Operational Bulletin (OB) informs visa offices and Regional Medical Offices (RMO) staff of the implementation of new immigration medical examination forms as well as supporting Immigration Medical Examination Instructions (IMEIs) for panel physicians. The use of the new forms and IMEI by panel physicians and RMOs will become mandatory as of November 1 2012, in anticipation of the eMedical implementation and the new release of GCMS 4.0
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2012/ob471.asp