How is syphilis tested?

Syphilis Overview: Everything you could ever want to know about syphilis and syphilis testing. read more

Results of syphilis tests performed on CSF samples, usually when someone has late or latent stages of the disease with suspected brain involvement (neurosyphilis), are often interpreted in conjunction with a blood test as well as the affected person's signs, symptoms, and medical history. read more

Blood tests can tell if your body is making the antibodies to fight the infection. The ones that fight syphilis bacteria can stay in your body for years, so your doctor can tell if you were infected, even if it were a long time ago. He can also diagnose syphilis by testing fluid from a sore. That’s rarely done. read more

Any person with signs or symptoms suggestive of syphilis should be tested for syphilis. Also, anyone with an oral, anal, or vaginal sex partner who has been recently diagnosed with syphilis should be tested for syphilis. Some people should be tested (screened) for syphilis even if they do not have symptoms or know of a sex partner who has syphilis. read more

Syphilis tests are used to screen for and diagnose infection with Treponema pallidum, the bacterium that causes syphilis. Antibody tests are most commonly used, including RPR, VDRL, immunoassays (IA), FTA-ABS and TP-PA. read more

There are two types of blood tests available for syphilis: 1) nontreponemal tests and 2) treponemal tests. Both types of tests are needed to confirm a diagnosis of syphilis. Nontreponemal tests (e.g., VDRL and RPR) are simple, inexpensive, and are often used for screening. read more