Syphilis TP-PA Print

WSLH Department: CDD - Communicable Disease Division
WSLH Test Code: SS02013
Day(s) Performed:

Test is run twice weekly (Tuesdays and Fridays)
Turn-around Time:

1-5 days
Recommended Uses:

To confirm the reactive results of a nontreponemal screening test for syphilis (VDRL, RPR) or as a diagnostic test in patients with a nonreactive nontreponemal test but with signs or symptoms suggestive of late syphilis.
Pre-approval:

No
Contraindications:

A reactive TP-PA test will remain reactive for life even with successful treatment and therefore is not useful in post-treatment evaluation.
Additional Tests Performed:
Preparation for Collection:
Specimen Requirements:

1-3 ml serum
Collection Instructions:

Routine blood draw
Collection Kit/Container:
Requisition Form:
Required Information:

Laboratory regulations require the following minimum information to be provided on the requisition form for a specimen to be accepted for testing: Patient name or unique identifier, date and time of collection, patient date of birth and sex, specimen type/site of collection, test request(s), clinician name and UPIN, and address for reporting results. Please be certain that name/identifier on the form matches that on the specimen label which is required to have a minimum of two identifiers.
Rejection Criteria:
Specimen Handling:

Specimens must be stored refrigerated (2-8°C) and transported with frozen cold packs.
Packaging Requirements:
Courier Information:

This test is not eligible for fee-exempt courier service.
Specimen Receiving Hours: Monday-Friday 6:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Saturday 6:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Results Include:

Non-Reactive: Suggests that a reactive nontreponemal test result (VDRL or RPR) is a false-positive reaction. False-positive nontreponemal results are seen in certain acute and chronic infections, following immunizations, in autoimmune diseases, and in intravenous drug addiction. 

Reactive: Confirms the reactivity of a nontreponemal test (VDRL or RPR) used as the screening test for syphilis. A reactive TP-PA result suggests current or past infection with pathogenic treponemes, and may also support the diagnosis of late syphilis or long-standing late latent syphilis in the small proportion of cases in which the nontreponemal test has become non-reactive, but infection is suspected because of the clinical presentation or a history consistent with syphilis infection. 

Inconclusive: May indicate that the patient is beginning to produce anti-treponemal antibodies due to recent infection. Submission of another specimen in 2 weeks to detect seroconversion is recommended.
Limitations:

A reactive TP-PA test will remain reactive following treponemal infection; it should not be used to evaluate response to therapy or be used alone to diagnose an active infection. The TP-PA test may be reactive in persons from areas where yaws or pinta is endemic. Interpretation of results must be used in conjunction with the clinical symptoms, medical history and other clinical laboratory findings to produce an overall clinical diagnosis. 
Additional Tests Recommended:
Additional Comments:
Methodology:

Particle agglutination
Includes:

Qualitative gelatin particle agglutination test for the detection of Treponema pallidum antibodies.
Regulatory Compliance:
CPT Code: 86780
Price: $47.00
Fee Exempt Eligible:

Yes, with DHS approval only, 608-267-9003
Billing and Revenue Office:

1-800-862-1065 arbill@slh.wisc.edu
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