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Preliminary Standardization of the Cardiolipin-Lecithin-Cholesterol Antigen for a Microprecipitation Test for Syphilis

From the Division of Laboratories and Research, New York State Department of Health, Albany

Abstract

The proportions of cholesterol, lecithin, and cardiolipin have been investigated for an antigen adjusted for the practical purposes of a micro-precipitation test. A cholesterol:lecithin ratio of 3:1 and a lecithin:cardiolipin ratio of 10:1, or 0.9 per cent of cholesterol, 0.3 per cent of lecithin, and 0.03 per cent of cardiolipin appear to meet these requirements.

Antigen suspensions prepared from less cholesterol were difficult to observe in tests. More cholesterol increased the reactivity of the antigen.

An increase in the cholesterol:lecithin ratio, as well as in the lecithin:cardiolipin ratio, enhanced the reactivity.

An antigen with a lecithin:cardiolipin ratio of 5:1 was undersensitive and subject to a large number of prozone reactions. With dilutions of a pool of strongly reacting syphilitic sera the same degree of reactivity was shown by antigens containing lecithin and cardiolipin in ratios from 10:1 to 25:1.

The reactivity of antigen suspensions is dependent upon the rate at which the saline is added to the stock alcoholic solution of antigen.