Syphilis is a highly contagious sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It spreads most commonly through vaginal, anal, or oral sex, and can also be passed from a pregnant person to their baby. Syphilis is fully curable with antibiotics, yet cases have been rising nationwide for over a decade.
That’s why reliable testing matters. Our syphilis test is designed to give you fast answers, clear interpretation, and clinical-level accuracy from start to finish.
How Our Syphilis Test Works:
We screen using the Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) test, a widely used, CDC-recommended screening method. Here’s what makes it effective:
What RPR Detects
The RPR test looks for non-treponemal antibodies, which your immune system creates when syphilis causes cellular damage. These antibodies are not specific to the bacterium itself; they signal that your body has responded to tissue injury caused by syphilis.
Why This Matters
RPR can detect infection in both the primary and secondary stages.
Antibody levels can reflect disease activity, which helps clinicians understand whether the infection may be new, active, or previously treated.
Unlike basic “yes/no” tests, we also provide quantitative titers, which measure the concentration of antibodies. Higher titers generally indicate a more active infection.
Confirmatory Testing
If your RPR test is reactive, our labs will run a treponemal confirmatory test such as:
FTA-ABS (Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Absorption)
T. pallidum particle agglutination (TP-PA)
These tests detect antibodies specific to Treponema pallidum and help distinguish:
True active infection
Past treated infection
False positives
Why Syphilis Often Goes Untreated:
One of the biggest dangers of syphilis is that symptoms may be:
MildEasy to confuse with other conditions
Completely absent
Even when symptoms appear, they may disappear without treatment, giving a false sense of recovery while the infection continues to progress internally.
The Three Stages of Syphilis:
Primary Stage (10–90 days after exposure)
A single, firm, painless sore (chancre) at the infection site
Typically appears on the genitals, anus, mouth, or throat
Heals without treatment, but the infection remains
Secondary Stage (Weeks to months after exposure)
Symptoms can come and go for months:
Widespread rash, including palms and soles
Mucous membrane sores
Swollen lymph nodes
Fever, fatigue, and headache
Patchy hair loss
Weight loss
Vision disturbances caused by ocular syphilis
Neurological changes (e.g., hearing loss, facial weakness)
Secondary syphilis is highly infectious.
Latent Stage
After secondary symptoms fade, syphilis becomes latent:
Early latent: within the first year, still transmissible
Late latent: beyond one year, usually not transmissible sexually
No symptoms occur in this stage, but the infection persists.
Tertiary Stage (Years to decades later if untreated)
Tertiary syphilis can damage multiple organs:
Brain & spinal cord (neurosyphilis)
Eyes (ocular syphilis)
Heart & blood vessels (cardiovascular syphilis)
Bones and soft tissues
Complications include:
Dementia-like symptoms
Blindness
Stroke
Aortic aneurysm
Paralysis
Death
What Your Test Results Mean:
Nonreactive RPR
No detectable antibodies
May indicate no infection
If exposure was recent, a repeat test in 2–3 weeks is advised
Reactive RPR
Antibodies detected
Could indicate active, recent, or past infection
Requires quantitative titer testing
Interpreting Titers
Titers are reported as ratios (e.g., 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:32, etc.)
Higher titers generally suggest recent or active infection
Who Should Consider This Test?
You may benefit from this test if:
You have had multiple or new sexual partners
You are entering a new relationship and both partners want a comprehensive check
You have had unprotected sex and want broad testing in one visit
You want STD screenings without scheduling a doctor’s visit first
110% Price Guarantee!
If you find the same test for a lower price from a comparable provider, contact us. We not only match the price, we beat it by an additional 10 percent of the difference.
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