Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Updated visitor guidelines. You are here Home » Syphilis Tests. Top of the page. Test Overview Syphilis tests tell if a person has this disease.
Testing is done on blood, body fluid, or tissue samples. 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. Rapid plasma reagin RPR test.
The RPR test also finds syphilis antibodies. Rapid immunochromatographic test. This test checks for antibodies that are specific to syphilis. Unlike other tests, the blood sample is not sent to a laboratory. You can find out the results at your doctor visit. Tests to confirm syphilis Tests used to confirm a syphilis infection include: Enzyme immunoassay EIA test. This blood test checks for syphilis antibodies. This test also checks for antibodies.
It can be used to find syphilis except during the first 3 to 4 weeks after exposure. The test can be done on a sample of blood or spinal fluid. Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay TPPA. It is used after another method tests positive for syphilis.
This test is not done on spinal fluid. Darkfield microscopy. This test uses a special microscope to look for the syphilis germ in a sample of fluid or tissue from an open sore. This test is used mainly to diagnose syphilis in an early stage.
The MHA-TP is used to confirm a syphilis infection after another test shows positive results for syphilis. Why It Is Done A syphilis infection can spread through the bloodstream to all parts of the body.
A test for syphilis is done to: Screen for syphilis or check how well treatment is working. 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. How To Prepare Tell your doctor if you: Are taking any medicines, such as antibiotics.
Are allergic to any medicines, especially antibiotics or medicine used to numb the skin anesthetics. Take a blood thinner , or if you have had bleeding problems.
Are or might be pregnant. How It Is Done A syphilis test may be done on a sample of blood, sore, skin, or spinal fluid, depending on which type of test is done. Blood sample Blood test from a finger stick For a fingertip sample, the health professional taking the sample will: Clean your hand with soap and warm water or an alcohol swab. Massage your hand without touching the puncture site. Puncture the skin on the side of your middle or ring finger with a small instrument called a lancet.
Wipe away the first drop of blood. Place a small tube on the puncture site and collect a small amount of blood. Put a gauze pad or cotton ball over the puncture site as the tube is removed.
Put pressure on the site and then put on a bandage. Blood test from a vein The health professional taking a sample of your blood will: Wrap an elastic band around your upper arm to stop the flow of blood. This makes the veins below the band larger so it is easier to put a needle into the vein. Clean the needle site with alcohol. Put the needle into the vein.
More than one needle stick may be needed. Attach a tube to the needle to fill it with blood. Remove the band from your arm when enough blood is collected. Early symptoms that may prompt your doctor to order this test include:. Usually, all you need to do for the VDRL test is allow a healthcare professional to draw your blood. Blood is generally drawn from a vein at the crease of the elbow or the back of the hand. This blood sample will then be sent to a laboratory and tested for the antibodies produced as a result of syphilis.
If your doctor suspects that the syphilis infection has spread to your brain, your doctor may choose to test your spinal fluid in addition to your blood. If your test comes back positive for syphilis antibodies, you probably but not definitely have syphilis. If this occurs, your doctor will order a more specific test to confirm the results.
A treponemal test is often used to confirm the positive test. Treponemal tests check whether your immune system has produced specific antibodies in direct response to the syphilis-causing Treponema pallidum. The test is also unreliable in late-stage syphilis. In some cases, your body may not produce antibodies even if you have been infected with syphilis. This means the VDRL test will be inaccurate. The antibodies produced as a result of a syphilis infection can stay in your body even after your syphilis has been treated.
This means you might always have positive results on this test. The risks of a blood draw are fairly minor. You might have slight issues like mild pain during the blood draw or minor bruising or bleeding afterward. This test must be confirmed with another blood test to make the diagnosis of syphilis. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples.
Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. A positive test result means you may have syphilis. If the test is positive, the next step is to confirm the results with an FTA-ABS test, which is a more specific syphilis test. The VDRL test's ability to detect syphilis depends on the stage of the disease. The body does not always produce antibodies specifically in response to the syphilis bacteria, so this test is not always accurate.
There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others. Syphilis Treponema pallidum. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Screening for syphilis infection in nonpregnant adults and adolescents: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.
PMID: www.
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