[Extraction of the soluble protein fraction from Treponema Reiter for use as antigen in syphilis serodiagnosis].

The present paper reports on two methods for extraction of the protein antigen from Treponema Reiter and shows the chemical and immunochemical characteristics of the extracts. Serologic testing of 1810 sera from syphilitic patients in various stages of the disease, from healthy subjects and from subjects with a false positive reaction to lipoid antigens, showed the value of the Reiter antigen to be equal to the cardiolipin antigens and those prepared from pathogenic Treponema. It is recommended to associate this antigen, in view of its qualities, to the cardiolipin tests used in the serodiagnosis of syphilis, especially in the laboratories that do not currently apply other treponema tests.