Laboratory Test Guide

Treponema pallidum Ab, IFA, CSF (Sendout)

General Information

Lab Name

Treponema pallidum Ab,IFA,CSF

Lab Code

RCFTAG

Epic Name

Treponema Pallidum Antibody, CSF (Sendout)

External Test Id

63486

Description

Clinical Significance: This immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for T pallidum antibody, also called the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption assay (FTA-ABS), may aid in the diagnosis of neurosyphilis. However, the preferred initial test for neurosyphilis evaluation is the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). For the diagnosis of neurosyphilis, all serum and CSF tests for syphilis should be evaluated in conjunction with clinical presentation.

Synonyms

FTA CSF, T pallidum antibody CSF, TPPA CSF

Components

Code	Name
RCFTAR	FTA Result, CSF
RCFTAC	FTA Comment, CSF

Interpretation

Method

Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)

Reference Range

See individual components

Guidelines

Washington DOH Notifiable Conditions

Ordering & Collection

Specimen Type

CSF

Collection

Collect 1 mL cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Handling Instructions

Outside Laboratories: Refrigerate CSF.

Stability: Refrigerated: 14 days; Frozen: 30 days; Ambient: 7 days.

Reject Due To: Gross hemolysis, lipemia, or icterus.

Quantity

requested: 1 mL CSF
minimum: 0.1 mL CSF

Processing

Refrigerate CSF.

Sendouts:

This test must be ordered through Mayo. It is not available to send directly to Quest.
Order Mayo Test: ZW83 (miscellaneous sendout to Quest). Enter the following in MayoAccess:
- Quest ID Test: Treponema pallidum Antibody, IFA, CSF
- Ref Lab Code: 63486
- Specimen Type: CSF