“…It was noted that a simple test, such as the VDRL peripheral blood test, was not carried out on all newborn infants, and that other tests, such as a radiological examination of long bones and a VDRL in fluid test, were not performed or information relating to these was missing in over half of the notified forms for infants. The same occurred in relation to examinations to determine fluid alterations which, when adding together all those not carried out or not documented, represent over 47% of the cases, a percentage rate similar to that found in the Federal District of Brasilia and in the State of Pernambuco 11,35 These findings reveal the non-compliance of professionals in their investigations into CS, and especially in cases of neurosyphilis, which involves serious morbidity for the newborn. Even though the majority of VDRL fluid test results were non-reactive and with titration of up to 1:8, a study carried out in a maternity hospital in the State of Pernambuco, that evaluated the presence of neurosyphilis in the newborn diagnosed with CS, showed that non-reactive VDRL in liquid test results do not eliminate the possible impairment of the central nervous system, in addition to recurring late manifestations, thereby underlining the role of epidemiology, the clinical and serological evidence in the diagnosis of the newborn (NB) 36 .…”