Treponema pallidum (Syphilis)
Clinical Specimen Submission Guidance
Submit all specimens to 150 Richmond Street, Suite 100, Providence, RI 02903. Open Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Learn how and where to drop off your lab samples at our Laboratory Central Services webpage.
STI & Arbovirus Laboratory 401-222-5591
Treponema pallidum
Syphilis
Syphilis testing is performed using the FDA-cleared assays ALINITY Syphilis TP Assay (Abbott Diagnostics) for screening, and both the RPR (ASI), and Serodia TP-PA (Fujirebio Diagnostics) for confirmation testing.
The performance characteristics of these assays were verified by the Rhode Island State Health Laboratories.
The Centers for Disease Control's syphilis reverse algorithm should be followed to interpret the combined laboratory results and should be used in conjunction with the patient's clinical symptoms, medical history, and other clinical/laboratory findings to determine an overall clinical diagnosis.
Note that reactive test results could represent a new syphilis infection but could also represent previously treated disease. Call the RI State Health Laboratory STI & Arbovirus Laboratory for further clarification, if needed.
Collect 3 -8 mL blood or plasma in red top tube or 2 mL serum
Refrigerate at 2° - 8° C.
CLIA regulations require specimens be labeled with at least two patient identifiers. Examples of identifiers are first and last name, date of birth, chart/medical record number. The specimen container must be labeled to match the test requisition or the electronic order.
Rhode Island State Health Laboratories (RISHL) test requisition form https://health.ri.gov/forms/LabRequisitionForm.pdf
Syphilis
Transport within 24 to 48 hours of collection.
Refrigerated: Transport and deliver to the laboratory within 24 hours of collection at 2-8°C in a cooler able to maintain specimen temperature. A plug-in electric cooler is recommended, however, a cooler packed with excess frozen gel packs is acceptable as long as the transport temperature is maintained at 2-8°C.
Specimens must be transported and packaged in accordance with current federal shipping regulations.
Stable at 2° - 8° C for 5 days
The following rejection criteria will be used to ensure accurate specimen information and specimen condition for testing:
- Specimen received outside acceptable transport range
- Demographics different / Unable to read identifiers on specimen
- Two identifiers required on specimen
- Expired / Incorrect collection kit
- Insufficient quantity
- Urine cup received
- No specimen received
- Specimen leaked in transit
- Test not evaluated in adolescents <14
- Specimen too old
Nonreactive
Providers must report patient information on Syphilis (primary, secondary, early latent, late latent, congenital) within 4 days using the RIDOH reportable disease form.
Screen: 3 business days
Confirmation: 5 business days