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Syphilis Tests - What To Think About
About this test
- An untreated syphilis infection during
pregnancy can infect the baby.
- The risk of infection is greatest when the mother has an early stage of syphilis.
- If a pregnant woman gets treatment before the 16th week of pregnancy, the baby usually will not have syphilis.
- Untreated infection during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth, or birth defects.
- If a screening test is positive (reactive), the
strength of the result may be determined by measuring the amount of reagin. The
results are then given in titers. A titer is a measure of how much the blood or
spinal fluid sample can be diluted before the reagin can no longer be detected.
- A titer of 1 to 16 (1:16) means that reagin can be detected when 1 part of the blood or spinal fluid sample is diluted by up to 16 parts of a salt solution (saline).
- A larger second number means there is more reagin in the sample and generally means a higher level of infection. So a titer of 1 to 64 means more reagin, and a more intense infection, than a titer of 1 to 16.
- A reactive or positive test result does not always mean that you have syphilis. Other conditions can cause positive screening test results, including injecting illegal drugs, recent vaccinations, pregnancy, endocarditis, autoimmune diseases (such as systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE), tuberculosis, mononucleosis, leprosy, malaria, hepatitis, Lyme disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Fluid from a sore that may be caused by syphilis sometimes is collected and examined with a special type of microscope (darkfield microscope).
- Screening for syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is often done for people who engage in high-risk sexual behavior. If you have syphilis, your sex partner or partners should be notified, tested, and treated to prevent serious complications and to stop the spread of the disease.
- With treatment, a positive reagin (VDRL and RPR) syphilis test result usually becomes negative. Positive treponemal (FTA-ABS, MHA-TP, TPPA) tests stay positive for a lifetime.
- Sores caused by syphilis (chancres) make it easier to get and spread an HIV infection.
- People with HIV infection who have a negative VDRL test should have a second test for syphilis if the infection is suspected.
- Many states require doctors to report all cases of syphilis to the local health department. In some states, doctors are also required to ask for the names and addresses of your recent sex partners. If you have syphilis, the health department may contact you to make sure that you get treatment. If you give the names of your sex partners to your doctor or the health department, they will be contacted in confidence by the health department and advised to have a test for syphilis.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: September 30, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | Sarah Anne Marshall, MD - Family Medicine Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH - Infectious Disease | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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