—Plastic dispensing bottle
—20-gauge, galvanized needle, blunt cut
—Test cards
—Pipette/stirrers, 50 microliter (Fl)
One 1 ml tuberculin syringe
Distilled water
Mechanical rotator (adjusted to 100 rpm)
RPR Card Test Control Cards (each consisting of
three labeled test areas containing lyophilized
(meaning a stabilized preparation of a biological
substance, such as blood, that has been frozen
rapidly and then dehydrated under a high
vacuum) control specimens with designated
patterns of reactivity: Reactive, Reactive-
Minimal-to-Moderate, and Nonreactive.)
NOTE:
RPR Card Test Antigen and
Control Cards must be stored at 4EC when
not in use. Both items are stable until the
expiration date. Store “in use” antigen
suspension in the dispensing bottle at
4EC. The antigen suspension is stable for
3 months or until the expiration date,
whichever occurs first.
Preliminary Preparations for RPR Test
The following preliminary preparations must be
performed before RPR testing can begin:
1. Remove the antigen suspension vial and one
control card envelope from the refrigerator.
Allow the items to warm to room temperature.
2. Resuspend the contents of the vial by vigorously
shaking the antigen vial.
3. Snap the neck of the vial.
4. Attach the needle (provided in the kit) to a 1 ml
tuberculin syringe. Slowly draw up into the
syringe from the vial approximately 1 ml of the
antigen suspension.
5. Hold the syringe perpendicular to the surface
and count the number of drops dispensed from a
0.5 ml volume. Allow the drops to fall into the
antigen vial. NOTE: The needle is accurate if
30 drops, plus or minus 1 drop, are dispensed
from the 0.5 ml volume.
6. Slowly expel the remainder of the antigen
solution in the syringe back into the antigen vial.
7. Remove the needle from the syringe. Place the
needle on the tapered fitting of the plastic
dispensing bottle (provided in the kit).
8. Slowly withdraw all the contents of the antigen
vial by collapsing the dispensing bottle and
using it as a suction device.
9. Allow the rotator to warm up for 5 to 10
minutes; adjust to 100 rpm.
RPR Test Procedure
To detect syphilis using the RPR Card test, follow
the steps below:
1. Open the foil package and remove the control
card.
2. Use a pipette/stirrer to reconstitute each control
card circle with 0.5 ml of distilled water.
3. Mix solution in control card circle with
pipette/stirrer until the dehydrated control
specimen is dissolved. Spread specimen over
entire area of circle.
Use a separate
pipette/stirrer for each circle.
4. Draw the patient’s sample by holding the
pipette/stirrer between the thumb and forefinger
near the stirring or sealed end and squeeze. Do
not release pressure until the open end is below
the surface of the specimen, then release
pressure to draw up the sample.
5. Hold the pipette/stirrer in a vertical position,
directly over the card test area where the
specimen is to be delivered; squeeze
pipette/stirrer, allowing 1 drop to fall onto the
test area.
6. Invert the pipette/stirrer and, with the sealed
end, spread specimen within the circle. Discard
the pipette/stirrer when done.
7. Continue the steps above until one or two test
cards are filled with patient’s samples.
8. Gently shake the antigen dispensing bottle
before use.
Hold the bottle in the vertical
position and dispense several drops into the
dispensing bottle cap to ensure the needle
passage is clear. Allow 1 “free-falling” drop to
fall onto each test area. Do not stir; the mixing
of antigen suspension and specimen is
accomplished by rotation.
9. Put the card(s) on the rotator and cover with the
humidifying cover. Rotate cards for 8 minutes
7-30
