VDRL is a four-letter abbreviation that can refer to Veneral Disease Research Laboratory. The VDRL is a nontreponemal serological screening for syphilis, the monitoring of the response to therapy, the detection of CNS involvement, and as an aid in the diagnosis of congenital syphilis. The screening detects a nonspecific antibody that reacts with beef cardiolipin. Many other conditions can produce false positive results, including some viruses (mononucleosis, hepatitis), drugs, rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and leprosy.

FTA-ABS is a far more specific test for syphilis and, in the presence of a positive VDRL test, indicates active infection.