Investigations on the rapid plasma reagin test.

The sensitivity of a recently devised serological test for syphilis, in which plasma is substituted for the more conventional serum specimen, was compared with that of the VDRL test. The authors specify the test antigens used and describe the preparation of the anticoagulant-potassium sequestrene-and the subsequent treatment of blood samples. The results obtained from an examination of 48 reactive samples and 90 non-reactive specimens demonstrated that the quantitative sensitivity of the Rapid Plasma Reagin test was somewhat greater than that of the VDRL serum determinations.