Pretest temperature effects on CAP syphilis serology survey samples

The College of American Pathologists syphilis serology survey participants periodically question survey-sample stability when the samples have possibly been exposed to temperature extremes during shipment. In this study it was demonstrated that short-term pretest incubations at temperatures above 58 degrees C (136.4 degrees F) usually cause a reduction in both rapid plasma reagin and FTA-ABS reactivity. No reactivity changes occurred in either test with short-term exposures to temperatures between -80 degrees C and 58 degrees C.