If it is positive, this could mean that you've had syphilis in the past, or that you have it now. It could also be a false positive. The sample will be sent for two more tests, including one to confirm the positive result. If you've tested positive for syphilis in the past, this test will likely be positive for life.
Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay TPPA. This test checks for syphilis antibodies. It is used after another method tests positive for syphilis. Rapid plasma regain RPR. This test is used to find out how far along the infection is stage of infection , to see how you're responding to treatment, and to find out if you've been infected again.
Polymerase chain reaction PCR test. This can detect syphilis DNA from a swab of a sore skin lesion if you've been recently infected. Venereal disease research laboratory VDRL test.
This test may be done after a positive syphilis blood test, if your doctor thinks the infection may have spread to the nervous system neurosyphilis. The VDRL test checks blood or spinal fluid for an antibody that can be produced in people who have syphilis. This antibody is not produced as a reaction to syphilis specifically, so the test result could be abnormal for reasons other than syphilis.
It also checks for antibodies. This test only works starting at around 4 weeks after you've been exposed to syphilis. It can be done on a sample of blood or spinal fluid. Health Tools Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health. Decision Points focus on key medical care decisions that are important to many health problems. Why It Is Done A syphilis infection can spread through your bloodstream to all parts of your body. A test for syphilis is done to: Screen for syphilis.
Screening tests help your doctor look for a certain disease or condition before any symptoms appear. This increases the chance of finding the infection when it can be cured or treated to avoid long-term problems.
Check pregnant women for syphilis. Syphilis during pregnancy can cause very serious problems. Confirm that a person has syphilis. Check how well treatment is working. How To Prepare If you think you might have syphilis , do not have sex until testing shows that you are not infected.
Read more about screening for syphilis during pregnancy. Page last reviewed: 07 February Next review due: 07 February The only way to find out if you have syphilis is to get tested. Who should get tested for syphilis You should get tested for syphilis if: you're worried you might have it a sexual partner has been diagnosed with syphilis you have symptoms of syphilis It's particularly important to get tested in these cases if you've had sex without a condom unprotected sex , you have multiple sexual partners, you're a man who has sex with men, or you've had sexually transmitted infections STIs in the past.
Where to get a syphilis test The best place to get tested for syphilis is a sexual health clinic sometimes called a genitourinary medicine GUM clinic. What the test for syphilis involves You'll be asked about your sexual history, and whether you're experiencing any symptoms.
Detailed fact sheets are intended for physicians and individuals with specific questions about sexually transmitted diseases. Detailed fact sheets include specific testing and treatment recommendations as well as citations so the reader can research the topic more in depth. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease STD caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Syphilis can cause serious health sequelae if not adequately treated. During , there were , reported new diagnoses of syphilis all stages , compared to 37, new diagnoses of HIV infection in and , cases of gonorrhea in Congenital syphilis syphilis passed from pregnant women to their babies continues to be a concern in the United States.
According to preliminary data, more than 2, cases of congenital syphilis were reported, compared to 65 cases of perinatal HIV infection during Syphilis is transmitted from person to person by direct contact with a syphilitic sore, known as a chancre. Chancres can occur on or around the external genitals, in the vagina, around the anus , or in the rectum, or in or around the mouth. Transmission of syphilis can occur during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
In addition, pregnant women with syphilis can transmit the infection to their unborn child. The average time between acquisition of syphilis and the start of the first symptom is 21 days, but can range from 10 to 90 days. However, syphilis typically follows a progression of stages that can last for weeks, months, or even years:. The appearance of a single chancre marks the primary first stage of syphilis symptoms, but there may be multiple sores.
The chancre is usually but not always firm, round, and painless. It appears at the location where syphilis entered the body. These painless chancres can occur in locations that make them difficult to notice e. The chancre lasts 3 to 6 weeks and heals regardless of whether a person is treated or not. However, if the infected person does not receive adequate treatment, the infection progresses to the secondary stage. This stage typically starts with the development of a rash on one or more areas of the body.
Rashes associated with secondary syphilis can appear when the primary chancre is healing or several weeks after the chancre has healed. The rash usually does not cause itching. The characteristic rash of secondary syphilis may appear as rough, red, or reddish brown spots both on the palms of the hands and the bottoms of the feet. However, rashes with a different appearance may occur on other parts of the body, sometimes resembling rashes caused by other diseases.
Sometimes rashes associated with secondary syphilis are so faint that they are not noticed. Large, raised, gray or white lesions, known as condyloma lata, may develop in warm, moist areas such as the mouth, underarm or groin region.
In addition to rashes, symptoms of secondary syphilis may include fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches, and fatigue.
The symptoms of secondary syphilis will go away with or without treatment. However, without treatment, the infection will progress to the latent and possibly tertiary stage of disease.
It can usually be cured with a short course of antibiotics but it's sometimes not possible to reverse any damage that's already been done if it's diagnosed too late. You can catch syphilis more than once, even if you've been treated for it before. Syphilis won't normally go away on its own and can cause serious problems if left undiagnosed and untreated.
The only way to find out if you have syphilis is to get tested. Signs and Symptoms of Syphilis The symptoms of syphilis aren't always obvious and may eventually disappear, but you'll usually remain infected unless you get treated. Symptoms can include: Primary Syphilis A painless but highly infectious sore or ulcer that typically appear on the penis, vagina, or around the anus, but can occur in other places such as the mouth.
This usually lasts two to eight weeks before disappearing, but if the infection isn't treated, it may progress to a second stage. Secondary Syphilis Symptoms, such as a skin rash and sore throat, then develop. These symptoms may disappear within a few weeks, after which you experience a latent hidden phase with no symptoms, which can last for years.
After this, syphilis can progress to its third, most dangerous stage. Late Syphilis At this stage, it can cause serious damage to the body, with conditions such as stroke, paralysis, blindness or even death.
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