Test Code Billings Clinic: 8766 VDRL, Serum or Spinal Fluid
Performing Laboratory
Montana Public Health Laboratory, Helena, Montana
Methodology
VDRL: Micro-Flocculation
TP-PA: Particle Agglutination
Specimen Requirements
Submit only 1 of the following specimens:
Serum
- Draw blood in a plain, red-top tube(s) or a serum gel tube(s).
- Spin down and send 2 mL of serum refrigerated.
- Indicate serum on request form.
- Label specimen appropriately (serum).
Spinal Fluid
- 1 mL (minimum volume: 0.5 mL) of spinal fluid.
- Send specimen refrigerated.
- Indicate spinal fluid on request form.
- Label specimen appropriately (spinal fluid).
Reference Values
- Nonreactive (reported as reactive or nonreactive)
- Confirmatory TP-PA testing will automatically be performed on all reactive serum VDRL specimens with 2 dilutions or greater.
Day(s) Test Set Up
Varies; 2 times per week
Test Classification and CPT Coding
86592 - Syphilis test, non-treponemal antibody; qualitative (eg, VDRL, RPR, ART)
86593 - Syphilis test, non-treponemal antibody; quantitative (if appropriate)
86780 - Antibody; Treponema pallidum (if appropriate)
Profile/Testing Information
This is a confirmatory test and will be performed whenever results for Billings Clinic: #7008 “Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) Test, Serum” is reactive.