smear. All body discharges contain extraneousmaterials, such as pus cells and mucus. Of interest,however, are the types of bacteria that may be present.The stained smear reveals only two features: themorphology and the staining characteristics of thebacteria present. Positive identification requirescultures and further studies.Hospital Corpsmen should report only whatthey see.For example, “Smear shows numerousgram-negative bacilli.” If two or more types ofbacteria are seen in a smear, the rule is to report them inorder of predominance. For example:“1. Numerous gram-positive cocci in clusters2. Few gram-negative bacilli”Gram-positive organisms are easy to see becausethey stain a deep blue or blue-black. Gram-negativeorganisms stain a deep pink, but since the backgroundmaterial is also pink, minute and detailed inspection isnecessary before reporting the results.In the presence of gonorrhea, the smear will reveallarge numbers of pus cells with varying numbers ofintracellular and extracellular gram-negative,bean-shaped cocci in pairs. Such a finding could beconsidered diagnostic. It is important to point out thatonly a few of the thousands of pus cells on the slidemay contain bacteria, and sometimes it requiresconsiderable search to find one.SEROLOGYLEARNING OBJECTIVE:Recallprinciples and procedures for the RapidPlasma Reagin (RPR) Card Test and theMonosticon DRI-DOT® Slide Test.Serology consists of procedures by which antigensand reacting serum globulin antibodies may bemeasured qualitatively and quantitatively. Serologictests have been devised to detect either antigenspresent or antibodies produced in a number ofconditions. Most tests are based on agglutinationreactions between an antigen and a specific antibody.An antigen is a substance that, when introducedinto an individual who does not already possess thatsubstance, may stimulate the individual’s cells toproduce specific antibodies that react to this substancein a detectable way. The five basic characteristics of anantigen are that it must be foreign to the body, it mustpossess a high molecular weight, it must bestructurally stable, it must be complex, and it musthave a high specificity to stimulate tissues to produce adefensive protein substance called an antibody.Antibodies are the specific defensive proteinsproduced when an antigen stimulates individual cells.Antibodies are produced by the host in response to thepresence of an antigen and are capable of reacting withantigens in some detectable way.The antigen-antibody reaction takes place whena reaction occurs between specific antibodies in theplasma and the antigen present on cell surfaces.Principles and procedures of two serologic tests,the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) card test and theMonosticon DRI-DOT® Slide Test are covered in thefollowing sections.RAPID PLASMA REAGIN (RPR)CARD TESTThe RPR Card test is a sensitive, easily performedscreening test for syphilis. The test is performed onunheated plasma or serum. Everything needed for thetest is in a kit that is available commercially. This testkit is very useful aboard ship and at small stations.Principle of the RPR Card TestIn the RPR Card test method of syphilis detection, aspecific antigen (carbon-particle cardiolipin) detects“reagin,” a substance present in the serum of personswho are infected with syphilis. Specimens that containreagin cause formation of particles (called flocculation)or coagulation of the carbon particles to occur on theRPR Card antigen. Reactive specimens appear as blackclumps against a white background. Nonreactivespecimens appear as an even, light-gray color.Materials Required for RPR TestTo perform an RPR Card test, the followingmaterials are required:Serum sample—venous blood collected in tubeswithout anticoagulant.NOTE:Use clear,unhemolyzed serum that has been separatedfrom the blood cells as soon after collection aspossible.RPR Card Test Kit, which consists of thefollowing components:—RPR Card antigen suspension7-29
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