USE OF THE TREPONEMA-PALLIDUM SPECIFIC CAPTIA SYPHILIS IGG ASSAY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RAPID PLASMA REAGIN TO TEST FOR SYPHILIS

The Captia Syphilis IgG enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was evaluated for use in conjunction with the rapid plasma reagin test (RPR) as a method to test for syphilis. A total of 1,288 serum specimens were tested by th e routine laboratory protocol of the RPR followed by microhemagluttina tion assay for Treponema pallidum (MHA-TP) testing of RPR-reactive ser a as well as the EIA-RPR protocol in which the automated ELA followed by a manual RPR test for EIA-positive specimens is used. When using th e routine protocol, 131 specimens were initially reactive by the RPR, and 113 of these were reactive by MHA-TP, When using the EIA RPR proto col, 170 specimens were initially positive by EIA, and of these, 112 w ere RPR reactive, indicating active disease, When compared to the rout ine protocol, the ELA-RPR protocol had sensitivity, specificity, and p ositive and negative predictive values of 96.5, 99.7, 97.3, and 99.7%, respectively. After resolution of discrepancies by additional testing , the adjusted sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative pre dictive values were 100, 99.8, 98.3, and 100%, respectively. This eval uation demonstrates that when used in conjunction with the RPR, the Ca ptia Syphilis EIA is a reliable method by which to test for syphilis.