J Lab Med Qual Assur.  2007 Jun;29(1):195-199.

Serologic Test for Syphilis by Mediace RPR Test for Chemistry Autoanalyzer

• Kim HS
• Lee YK
• Kang HJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mediace RPR test for chemistry autoanalyzer, a nontreponemal serologic test for syphilis, was recently introduced in Korea. We evaluated the performance of Mediace RPR test.
METHODS
For the evaluation of precision, within-run and total coefficient variations were analyzed. Two hundred and one sera were tested by Mediace RPR test to investigate the distribution of Mediace RPR titers in healthy subjects. Mediace RPR test was compared with RPR card test using 126 sera.
RESULTS
Total coefficient variations for positive control, negative control and pooled sera were 9.1%, 46.6% and 35.3%, respectively. The results of Mediace RPR test in healthy subjects showed 0.44+/-0.28 (mean+/-standard deviation) RPR unit (RU), and the positive rate was 3.5% (7/201). The agreement between Mediace RPR test and RPR card test was 73%. In some of the sera with a result of greater than 4.0 RU, Mediace RPR test showed markedly lower results than that of RPR card quantitative test.
CONCLUSION
Mediace RPR test has the advantages that it is useful for screening large number of samples and the results are objective. Mediace RPR test can be used as a quantitative test in sera with low titers. Dilution is needed to determine high titers in sera. Adjusting cutoff for the setting of individual hospital is maybe helpful.

Keyword

Syphilis; Nontreponemal serologic test; Mediace RPR test

MeSH Terms

Chemistry*
Korea
Mass Screening
Serologic Tests*
Syphilis*