A non-treponemal diagnostic test for syphilis infection includes initially dissolving cholesterol in an organic solvent and further diluting the dissolved cholesterol in an ethanol solution comprising cardiolipin and lecithin, permitting a volume of the antigen solution to evaporate in place within a container, rinsing the coated container with buffered saline, stabilizing the antigen coating by overcoating the antigen coating with an inert protein dissolved in buffered saline, decanting the overcoat solution, air-drying the container, and sealing the container in vapor-proof pouches with desiccant, providing an enzyme-labeled conjugate component of a syphilis infection test that is formulated to be compatible with a lipid nature of the cholesterol, the cardiolipin, and the lecithin VDRL antigens, providing a sample diluent that is formulated to be compatible with the lipid nature of the VDRL antigens, and providing a wash fluid that is formulated to be compatible with the lipid nature of the VDRL antigens.