T Pallidum Antibodies (Syphilis IgG/IgM Screen)

Specimen Type

Serum

Specimen Required

Serum separator tube (SST) Please allow 20 minutes after collection for specimen to clot before centrifugation. All specimens must be centrifuged within four hours of collection.

Specimen Minimum Volume

1.0 mL of blood

Specimen Stability Information

Separated serum is stable for 5 days at 2 – 8°C. Freeze for extended storage. Separate EDTA plasma from red cells and test within 48 hours of collection.

Special Instructions

Samples should not be taken from patients receiving therapy with high biotin doses (i.e. > 5 mg/day) until at least 8 hours following the last biotin administration.

Samples with a cutoff index < 1.00 are non-reactive in the Elecsys Syphilis assay. These samples are considered negative for anti-Treponema pallidum antibodies. Samples with a cutoff index ≥ 1.00 are considered reactive in the Elecsys Syphilis assay. All initially reactive samples are repeated automatically by the analyzer. Repeatedly reactive samples must be supplemented according to recommended confirmatory algorithms. Reactive treponemal test results alone are not diagnostic of syphilis, treponemal test results should always be interpreted in conjunction with additional treponemal or nontreponemal serologic test results (as appropriate), medical history, clinical presentation and other findings, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines.

Performing Laboratory

Glens Falls Hospital Chemistry and Special Chemistry Department

Reference Values

Nonreactive

Day(s) and Time(s) Performed

As ordered.  Turn around time is 4 hours.

Specimen Retention Time

72 hours

Reflex Tests

RPR if positive.