I am so scare please help doctor.

I think I have been oxposure with syphilis 2002. 2002  I have unprotected oral sex with a street prostitue. I am so scare to death so I have take RPR Test on sep. 8, 2007 and the result came back at negative. My concern is that do the RPR test can be able to dectect the syphilis virus in your body  if its 5 years ago?? I have read a lot of website about syphilis and they said the RPR can give false negative if its in late stage or if has in your body for many years ago. DR.HHH can you please help me straighten this out so I am not worry about my negative test I just took on sep.8, 2007

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Why all the questions all of a sudden about false negative RPR tests?  Are you the same person as smith2006, jgh, and/or vjay2004?  Or did you all just see the same (apparently unreliable) website?  Read my responses to their questions, all in the past 3 days.

It is exceedingly rare for someone to have active syphilis with a negative RPR.  First, most street prostitutes don't have syphilis.  Probably less than 1 in 10,000 have active syphilis that could be transmitted by oral sex.  Second, if you caught syphilis from oral sex, almost certainly you would have noticed the sore of primary syphilis (the chancre) on your penis.  (It's hard to miss a sore that lasts 3-6 weeks before it goes away.)  Third, if you had been infected, the RPR would have been positive.  The combination of low risk, no symptoms, and negative RPR prove unequivocally you did not catch syphilis.

Best wishes-- HHH, MD

[Iamsoscrare]

DR. HHH I have another question. So you  mean it doesnt matter how long or how many years (5 years ) if you have syphilis the RPR blood test would let you know if you have negative or postive? Thanks you very much for your help as I am just scare.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

No, the time does not matter.  Even if someone catches syphilis, most cases "burn out", i.e. go away without treatment.  If that happens, the RPR may become negative.  But if there is active syphilis that has any chance of doing harm, the RPR is always positive--whether 1 year, 5 years, or 20 years after infection.

[Iamsoscrare]

thanks you very much Doctor. That really help me alot.