Syphilis: VDRL, CSF

CPT: 86592
Updated on 12/13/2024
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Synonyms

  • CSF Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) Test
  • Neurosyphilis

Expected Turnaround Time

1 - 4 days


Related Documents


Specimen Requirements


Specimen

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)


Volume

1 mL


Minimum Volume

0.2 mL (Note: This volume does not allow for repeat testing.)


Container

Sterile tube


Storage Instructions

Refrigerate.


Stability Requirements

 

TemperaturePeriod
Room Temperature14 days
Refrigerate14 days
Frozen14 days
Freeze/Thaw CycleStable x3

Temperature

Period

Refrigerated

5 days

 

TemperaturePeriod
Room Temperature14 days
Refrigerate14 days
Frozen14 days
Freeze/Thaw CycleStable x3

Causes for Rejection

Hemolysis; gross bacterial contamination


Test Details


Use

This syphilis VDRL is a nontreponemal assay used to aid in the diagnosis of neurosyphilis.


Methodology

Agglutination


Reference Interval

Nonreactive


Additional Information

A positive VDRL in a spinal fluid uncontaminated by serum is essentially diagnostic of neurosyphilis; however, a negative test may occur in 30% of patients with tabes dorsalis. The CSF VDRL may take years to become nonreactive after adequate therapy. In AIDS patients, serial CSF VDRL determinations may be needed when neurosyphilis is suspected. By requiring either a positive plasma RPR or FTA-ABS, seropositivity of CSF VDRL could increase to 90%.


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