Sensitivity and Specificity of Reiter Protein Complement-Fixation (RPCF) Test for Syphilis

Abstract

D'Alessandro and his co-workers reported on the separation of four different fractions from the Reiter strain of Treponema pallidum (1, 2, 3). This report deals with the thermolabile soluble protein extract of the Reiter treponeme. The antigen employed in this study was prepared by de Bruijn (4) using the technic described by D'Alessandro. The antigen is prepared briefly as follows: The Reiter treponemes are grown in a Brewer thioglycollate medium. After harvesting the washing, the treponemes are subjected to cryolysis. The lysate is dialyzed against increasing concentrations of ammonium sulfate. The precipitate thus obtained is dissolved in a veronal-buffered saline. This solution is dialyzed against veronal-buffered saline to remove all traces of ammonium sulfate. The dialysate is centrifuged at high speed, the supernate is preserved with “Merthio-late” in a final concentration of 1:10,000 and then lyophilized in 2 ml. aliquots. This antigen is reconstituted with distilled water and submitted to antigen titration prior to use. The reconstituted antigen is stored at 4° C. It has remained stabile until the contents of the vial have been completely used, approximately three months to date.