The reiter protein complement fixation test in experimental syphilis

Reiter Treponeme in Syphilis Serology

“…positive STS (Standard Tests for Syphilis) results in non-syphilitic cases, suggests that investigations have been carried out with preselected sera. In a random population, this incidence is much lower; of 10,000 sera forwarded for routine serological testing to the Regional Laboratory of Public Health in Utrecht, 125 were reactive in the STS, and ten of them were BFP (Bekker, 1960), The results obtained with syphilitic sera show the Reiter protein complement-fixation (RPCF) test to equal the TPI test in sensitivity, provided that an adequate complement-fixation technique is used. The results obtained with non-syphilitic sera show the specificity of the RPCF test to be only slightly less than that of the TPI test, and much better than that of the STS.…”

Limitations of the Reiter Protein Complement-Fixation (RPCF) Test

“…

In previous papers we have recommended the application of the Reiter protein complementfixation (RPCF) test as a simple, reliable, and specific test for the sero-diagnosis of syphilis, provided that an adequate antigen and technique are used (De Bruijn and Bekker, 1957;Bekker, 1958Bekker, , 1959. We emphasized the use of the RPCF test for confirmation of the cardiolipin tests and as a preselection procedure for the T. pallidum immobilization (TPI) test.

…”

“…We emphasized the use of the RPCF test for confirmation of the cardiolipin tests and as a preselection procedure for the T. pallidum immobilization (TPI) test. The RPCF test cannot be used as a substitute for the TPI test, however, nor can the RPCF test replace the cardiolipin tests (Bekker, 1960).No laboratory test for syphilis is perfect as regards specificity and sensitivity, and reactive results in non-syphilitic sera and non-reactive results in syphilitic sera do occur with all tests. For a correct interpretation of the results of the RPCF test its limitations must be recognized.…”

“…(The saline contained 100 mg. magnesium sulphate per litre). With this technique the sensitivity of the RPCF test at least equals that of the TPI test (Bekker, 1959), and in treated syphilitic patients its sensitivity is even greater (Bekker, 1960; Bekker and Onvlee, 1959). Exceptionally, a non-reactive RPCF test is found in syphilitic sera which react in the TPI test.…”

“…We emphasized the use of the RPCF test for confirmation of the cardiolipin tests and as a preselection procedure for the T. pallidum immobilization (TPI) test. The RPCF test cannot be used as a substitute for the TPI test, however, nor can the RPCF test replace the cardiolipin tests (Bekker, 1960).…”