Syphilis Test

What is Syphilis test?

A syphilis test or syphilis blood test or syphilis detection test is a blood examination that helps detecting antibodies generated in response to the bacteria Treponema pallidum that causes syphilis, which is a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI). It is often referred to as std blood test or std diagnostic tests or an std test

What are the indications/symptoms and what to do?

Under Primary Syphilis-

• Small pore (chance)

Under Secondary Syphilis-

• Rash, after chancre (often not visible)
• Weight loss
• Hair loss
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Tiredness, fatigue
• Muscle ache

Under Latent Syphilis-

• Untreated syphilis, transfers from secondary stage to latent stage. This stage generally lasts for years without any visible symptoms.

Under Tertiary Syphilis-

• Damage occurs in, bones and joints
• Blood vessels
• Eyes
• Nerves
• Brain
• Heart
• Liver

Under Congenital Syphilis-

Generally, occurs in new born. Disease get passed through the mother during the pregnancy stage or even after birth.

• Rhinitis
• Fever
• Sores, rashes
• Anemia
• Jaundice
• Swollen liver

Syphilis induces many stages, from primary syphilis to congenital syphilis. For an early detection and prevention, it is recommended to consult with the patient's health provider for a thorough examination, treatment and medication.

How can a person get infected by Syphilis test?

There is a high risk of getting syphilis if one is induced in such activities-

• Engaging in sexual intercourse without any protection (using a condom), highly increases risks of transmitting STIs.
• Syphilis can spread more easily when coinfected with other STIs, such as gonorrhea, and treatment becomes more complex.
• Someone Living with HIV and are sexually active.
• Getting along in sexual intercourse with a partner, who is sexually active with multiple partners.
• Engaging in sexual activities with multiple partners in a specific timeline.

What is the sample type?

Typically, a blood sample is required for syphilis test.

What preparation is required by the patient for the Syphilis detection test?

Generally, no special preparation is needed for a syphilis test.

Is Syphilis a communicable disease?

Syphilis is a highly infectious disease primarily gets transmitted through sexual contact or intercourse with an infected person. It can also get spread to newborns during the pregnancy period of the infected mother or during breastfeeding their newborns.

What does a Syphilis test result mean?

A positive result signifies patient's exposure towards syphilis at present, and needs to consult with a health care provider for further diagnosis, medication and treatment.

A negative result indicates that the patient is not currently infected with the disease and that the antibodies are not currently detectable.

• A positive result signifies patient's exposure towards sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), syphilis, at present, and needs to consult with a health care provider for further diagnosis, medication and treatment.
• A negative result indicates that the patient is not currently infected with the sexually transmitted disease and that the antibodies are not currently detectable.
• Syphilis can spread more easily when coinfected with other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as gonorrhea, and treatment becomes more complex.
• Treponema test is done to confirm a positive test after Nontreponemal test to detect syphilis in the patient. Test for syphilis VDRL is often recommended under nontreponemal test, as a VDRL syphilis test evaluates the body's immune response towards the infection.
• Nontreponemal test is used as an initial test screening to measure antibodies, through VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) test and RPR (Rapid Plasma Reagin) test, after confirmation of syphilis in the patient.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’S)