Lupus anticoagulant and false positive serological tests for syphilis

A 41-year old male who presented for blood donation for the first time was rejected on the grounds of a positive reaginic serological test (VDRL and RPR) and a specific antitrepomena test (FTA) for syphilis. Later studies revealed the existence of a lupus anticoagulant and this was made responsible for the positive serology. Our observation suggests the need to search for the existence of a lupus anticoagulant in blood donors with non-specific or specific positive antitrepenema test.