ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory
| 0050477: Treponema pallidum Antibody (FTA-ABS), Serum, IgG by IFA with reflex to Treponema pallidum Antibody by TP-PA |
| Test Mnemonic: FTA | |
|
Methodology: Indirect Fluorescent Antibody
Performed: Sun-Sat Reported: 1-4 days |
| Specimen Required: | |
|
Collect: One 4 mL SST.
Transport: 1 mL serum at 2-8°C. (Min: 0.5 mL) Submit specimen in an ARUP Standard Transport Tube. Pediatric Collection/Transport: 0.2 mL serum at 2-8°C. Remarks: Separate serum from cells ASAP. Unacceptable Conditions: CSF, plasma, and other body fluids. Severely lipemic, contaminated, or hemolyzed specimens. Stability: After separation from cells: Ambient: 2 days; Refrigerated: 2 weeks; Frozen: 1 year (avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles) |
|
| Reference Interval: |
| Nonreactive |
| Note: | |
|
The Fluorescent Treponema Antibody (FTA) is recommended for follow-up of reactive nontreponemal tests for syphilis, and as a single test in patients suspected of late syphilis. The FTA may be used to resolve discrepancies between laboratory results and clinical impressions. FTA tests for syphilis may be falsely positive in some cases of systemic lupus erythematosus, pregnancy, and leprosy. The FTA test is not recommended for cerebrospinal fluid specimens. For CSF specimens, the VDRL-CSF test is recommended. Inconclusive results will be repeated by TP-PA to aid the physician in diagnosis. Inconclusive final reports indicate the initial specimen submitted has been tested twice and cannot be interpreted as either reactive or nonreactive. If it is the second specimen submitted on a patient and the report is again inconclusive, it is impossible to state definitively that the patient does or does not have syphilitic infection. Reflex will only happen when the FTA is found to be inconclusive. |
| CPT Code(s): | |
| 86781; if reflexed, add 86781 |