Step 1: Neurosyphilis is diagnosed by examining the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The CSF shows pleocytosis, raised protein concentration and reactivity on the VDRL test.
Step 2: A positive CSF VDRL confirms the diagnosis of neurosyphilis, so VDRL is the standard diagnostic test on CSF.
Step 3: The CSF VDRL has high specificity but low sensitivity, so a negative result does not rule out neurosyphilis. In that situation the FTA-ABS test on CSF is used to supplement VDRL.
Step 4: RPR and TPI are serum-based tests not used as the primary CSF diagnostic test for neurosyphilis, and FTA-ABS is used as a supplement rather than the first-line CSF test, so the best answer is VDRL.