Abstract
Originally it was believed that the various standard tests were specific for syphilis, and that the finding of a positive test was proof that the patient had syphilis. The fact that the tests could be undertaken with a non-specific antigen extracted from beef-heart, raised doubts as to the specificity of the tests. It subsequently became apparent that positive results were sometimes obtained from patients other than syphilitics, and, with the passing of years, more and more causes of false positives have been reported, together with reports of false positives for which no cause could be ascribed, so that now there is a formidable literature on the subject. The British Journal of Venereal Diseases (1951), in an editorial devoted to the subject, suggested that the increasing awareness of the problem of the BFP could be ascribed to two causes:
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