An Examination of the Treponemal Wassermann Reaction and Reiter Protein Complement-Fixation Test

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Abstract
In a lengthy and detailed study, Sequeira compares the Treponemal Wasserman Reaction (TWR) with the Reiter Protein Complement-Fixation Test (RPCF) and the Treponema pallidum immobilization test (TPI) tests. In venereal disease clinic patients, general hospital population, prenatal clinic patients, blood donors, and in so-called problem patients. In addition, a number of lipoidal tests were carried out. In early syphilis he found lipoidal tests to become reactive earliest, then the RPCF and TPCF tests and finally the TPI, but in late syphilis, the TPI and TPCF tests remain reactive longest, then the RPCF and the lipoidal tests become non-reactive earliest. Sequiera states that several of the treponemal tests detect or probably detect reagin as well as more specific antibodies, and therefore may be falsely positive in non-syphilitic patients. He differentiates between thermolabile and thermostable treponemal antibodies, the TPCF and the RPCF detecting the former, the RPCF test both. In summary, he found the RPCF test superior to the TWR, and suggests that the RPCF test and 2 tests for reagin be used routinely, with the TPI test available when discrepancy is found between the reagin tests and the RPCF. However he felt it premature to recommend this for routine laboratories at the present time.