Reporting
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Results Available: 1-2 Days |
Contact #s: |
Reference
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Method: RPR Card Test (agglutination) |
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Turnaround Time: 1-2 days |
Reference Range: Nonreactive |
Limitations: May not detect a recent infection, or infection in a person with a severely compromised immune system. |
Interpretation: Nonreactive indicates that the patient does not have detectable antibody to the infectious agent. Reactive indicates that the patient has detectable antibody to the infectious agent, and depending on the clinical picture, may have a current or past infection. |
Specimen Requirements
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Specimen Collection: Venipuncture |
Sample Type: Serum |
Volume/Amount Required: 5 mL serum |
Preferred Specimen: Single Serum |
Collection/Preservation: Red top or tiger top tube |
Storage Instructions: Separated serum may be held at 2-8°C |
Causes for Rejection: Discrepancy between name on tube and name on form, insufficient quantity of serum for testing, gross hemolysis |
Sample Container: Red top or tiger top tube |
Sample Test Kit: |
Availability: Test performed daily |
Diagnostic Information: The rapid plasma reagin (RPR) card test is a macroscopic, non-treponemal flocculation test for the qualitative and semi-qualitative serological detection of syphilis. Nontreponemal tests for syphilis become reactive 4-6 weeks after infection with titers peaking during secondary to early latent stage. Treatment in the primary or secondary stages usually results in a rapid decline in titer. Treatment given in latent or late stages has less effect on antibody titers and the test may remain reactive at low titers indefinitely. The reagin-type antibody binds with the antigen that is composed of a complex of cardiolipin, lecithin and cholesterol particles with activated charcoal; the result of this antigen-antibody reaction is a macroscopic flocculation that shows up as black clumps against the white card. The RPR-Card test is a screening test and without some other evidence for the diagnosis of syphilis, a reactive non-treponemal test does not confirm Treponema pallidum infection. The RPR-Card test does not distinguish between syphilis and other treponematoses such as yaws, pinta and bejel. The semi-qualitative RPR-Card Test may be used as a method to follow response to treatment. A four-fold or greater drop in titer between pre- and post-treatment specimens is indicative of response to therapy. Test is performed daily. |
Specimen Submission
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Required Request Form: G-2A, G-THSTEPS for THSteps Medicaid |
Specimen Handling: Use Universal Precautions |
Transport Temperature: Separated serum or SST tube at 2-8°C (refrigerated) or serum -20°C (frozen). |
Shipping Requirements: Triple contain. Separated serum, or SST Tubes within 5 days may be shipped overnight on cold packs (2-8°C), or > 5 days, ship serum frozen (-20°C) and mail on dry ice |
Billing
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CPT Code: 86592 |
Fees: |