Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) is a blood test used to screen for syphilis by detecting non-specific antibodies produced in response to the infection. It is often used as an initial screening tool followed by more specific confirmatory tests.
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RPR is a non-treponemal test that detects antibodies against cardiolipin-lecithin-cholesterol antigen.
A positive RPR test indicates the need for further confirmatory testing, such as the FTA-ABS test.
RPR can produce false positives due to other conditions like lupus, malaria, or certain viral infections.
The test can be used to monitor treatment effectiveness; declining titers indicate successful therapy.
RPR results are reported as titers, with higher titers suggesting active infection.
Review Questions
What does the Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) test detect in the blood?
Why might a positive RPR test require further confirmatory testing?
How can RPR results be used to monitor the effectiveness of syphilis treatment?
Related terms
Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Absorption (FTA-ABS): A specific confirmatory test for syphilis that detects antibodies directly against Treponema pallidum.
Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL): Another non-treponemal serological test used to detect syphilis and monitor treatment.