Syphilis Testing

Tell me about the syphilis test.

Syphilis can be screened with a simple blood test called the Rapid Plasma Reagin test or RPR. Shortly after infection occurs, the body produces syphilis antibodies that can be picked up by this accurate and safe blood test. A low level of antibodies will likely stay in the blood for months or years even after the disease has been successfully treated.

How often should I test?

If you are sexually active, make syphilis testing, HIV testing, and getting other STD tests part of your health routine. Get a syphilis test every 6 months or more frequent if you are having sex with multiple partners.

What do the test results mean?

A positive test indicates that you have either a current or past syphilis infection. If your test comes back negative, it does not necessarily mean you do not have syphilis. Antibodies may not be detectable for up to 3 months after exposure to the syphilis bacteria.