Serological Testing Flashcards
What is the purpose of Rapid Plasma Reagin testing?
Non-treponemal test for serologic detection of the antibody reagin, which is produced in response to an infection of syphilis caused by treponema pallidum
What is reagin?
A phsopholipid which is produced in patients infected with Treponema pallidum.
Where is reagin found?
serium/plasma of patients
When flocculation is present in an RPR what does that indicate?
A positive test
What is FTA-ABS?
Fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorbed test is the confirmatory test for RPR testing.
When studied under a ultraviolet microscope what does a fluoresce result indicate?
Positive FTA-ABS
What color tubes do you collect venous blood in for serum or plasma sample?
Red for serum and purple for plasma.
How long do you shake a vial of antigen suspension to mix it?
10-15 seconds
What are the two types of quality control that should be run with every RPR?
Equipment quality control
Reagent quality control
What do you calculate the mechanical rotator to ?
100 rpm
What do you calibrate the antigen needle to ?
60 drops per 1 mL
What is the purpose of the monospot test?
The monospot test is used to detect infectious mononucleosis which is a self-limiting disease caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. It is typically seen in young adults and children less than 5 years of age. Clinically the disease presents as fecer, malaise, lethargy, sore throat with exudates, enlarged lymph nodes on the neck, mild hepatitis, enlarged spleen, and occasional blotchy skin rash. Forms a “ heterophile” antibody because of the specific production in response to antigen stimulation.
How quickly must you test the specimen for a monospot if stored between 2-8 degrees celcius?
Within 24 hours
What does a monospot positive show?
Agglutination
What is malaria?
A parasitic infection caused by the introduction of the protozoan organisms into the blood by the bite of a female anopheles mosquito.
What is the life cycle of plasmodium.
- female anopheles mosquito bites humans and sporozoites injected into human when bitten.
- Sporozoites enter parenchymal cells of liver to become schizonts. Development in liver: pre-erythrocytic cycle. Further development in the liver after RBC invasion: Exoerythrocytic cycle.
- Inside parenchymal cells, schizonts rupture, releasing merozoites, which then burst out of liver cells to invade RBCs. Merozoites develop to form immature trophozoites. Become actively amoeboid.
- Gametocyte of P. falciparum
What are the four types of malaria found in humans?
Plasmodium falciparum
Plasmodium Vivax
Plasmodium Ovale
Plasmodium Malariae
Describe Plasmodium Falciparum
Erythrocytic cycle fever every 48 hours or every cond day
Most fatal likely to cause intravascular hemolysis
Descbie Plasmodium VIvax
Most common with a fever every 2nd day
Benign Tertian
Plasmodium Ovale
Benign Tertian
Plasmodium Malariae
Benign Quartan with a fever every 72 hours or every 3rd day
How long must you wait before reading a malaria test?
15 minutes
What does a T1 positive test indicate?
Positive for Plasmodium Falciparum
What does a positive T2 test indicate?
Plasmodium vivax, malariae, or ovale. may indicae mixed infection of the three.
