Pretest temperature effects on CAP syphilis serology survey samples.
The College of American Pathologists syphilis serology survey participants periodically question survey-sample stability when the samples have possibly been exposed to temperature extremes during shipment. In this study it was demonstrated that short-term pretest incubations at temperatures above 58 degrees C (136.4 degrees F) usually cause a reduction in both rapid plasma reagin and FTA-ABS reactivity. No reactivity changes occurred in either test with short-term exposures to temperatures between -80 degrees C and 58 degrees C.
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005428:Flocculation Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial