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Test Code VDSFQ VDRL Titer, Spinal Fluid


Specimen Required


Only orderable as a reflex. For more information see VDSF / VDRL, Spinal Fluid.

 

Collection Container/Tube: Sterile vial

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL


Secondary ID

65036

Useful For

Aiding in the diagnosis of neurosyphilis

Testing Algorithm

Only orderable as a reflex. For more information see VDSF / VDRL, Spinal Fluid.

Method Name

Only orderable as a reflex. For more information see VDSF / VDRL, Spinal Fluid.

 

Flocculation/Agglutination

Reporting Name

VDRL Titer, CSF

Specimen Type

CSF

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.2 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
CSF Frozen (preferred) 14 days
  Refrigerated  14 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia Reject

Clinical Information

VDRL is a nontreponemal serologic test for syphilis that uses a cardiolipin-cholesterol-lecithin antigen to detect reaginic antibodies.

 

The presence of neurosyphilis in untreated patients can be detected by the presence of pleocytosis, elevated protein, and a positive VDRL.

Reference Values

Only orderable as a reflex. For more information see VDSF / VDRL, Spinal Fluid.

 

Negative

Reference values apply to all ages.

Interpretation

A positive VDRL on spinal fluid is highly specific for neurosyphilis.

Cautions

VDRL testing on spinal fluid gives a high percentage of false-negative results.

Clinical Reference

1. Miller JN: Value and limitations of nontreponemal and treponemal tests in the laboratory diagnosis of syphilis. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 1975 Mar;18(1):191-203

2. Radolf JD, Tramont EC, Salazar JC: Syphilis (Treponema pallidum). In Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Elsevier; 2020:2865-2892

Method Description

VDRL antigen and spinal fluid are mixed on a 180 RPM rotator. The antigen, a cardiolipin-lecithin coated cholesterol particle, flocculates in the presence of reagin.(US Department of Health, Education and Welfare, National Communicable Diseases Center, Venereal Disease Program: Manual of Tests for Syphilis. Centers for Disease Control; 1969;  Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Elsevier; 2020)

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Report Available

1 to 3 days

Specimen Retention Time

14 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

86593

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
VDSFQ VDRL Titer, CSF 31146-4

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
65036 VDRL Titer, CSF 31146-4