Lyophilized Survival Medium for the T. Pallidum Immobilization Test

Abstract

The authors report on lyophiliza-tion of survival medium for the Treponema pallidum immobilization (TPI) test. They point out that this in no way alters the nutritive quality of the medium, but that it insures that the medium has perfect keeping qualities and that the quality of the medium is constant. Therefore the quality of the syphilitic rabbit orchitis is the only remaining variable affecting duration of mobility of the T. pallidum. The authors suggest that lyophilized medium should be made available commercially for laboratories performing the TPI test. They state that testicular fluid may contain both a survival factor and a toxic factor, the former promoting and the latter limiting duration of motility of the treponemes.