Venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test. The VDRL test checks for an antibody that can be produced in people who have syphilis. This antibody is not produced as a reaction
to the syphilis bacteria specifically, so this test is sometimes not accurate. The VDRL test may be done on a sample of blood or spinal fluid. The VDRL test is not very useful for detecting syphilis in very early or advanced stages.
Rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test. The RPR test also detects syphilis antibodies.
I tested positive for an RPR test. However, the RPR confirmation test came negative. I am not sure if someone encountered that. I am still not clear on how and why this could be positive.
The RPR and the VDRL are good screening tests for syphilis. Low titer false positives can occur. That is why a confirmatory test is done if they are positive.
So, does that mean that if the confirmatory test comes as negative I do not have to worry about it. How can I know for sure that there is no RPR scare?
You can test for syphilis as you have done.One test was positive and the confirmation test was negative. You do not have syphilis.
At one time you might have had syphilis so that is why the first test was positive and probably will always be positive if you had syphilis once but the confirmation test proves you no longer have active syphilis.
I have a question. Is FTA-ABS similar to the RPR confirmation test? You replied that sometime back I might've had syphilis. I had protected sex with a female in Feb 08 and I tested positive in Dec 08, following which I had the RPR confirmation test twice which came up negative. Does this mean I did have active syphilis? Do I need to get any additional tests to make sure that I have not been infected?
If you had 2 confirmation tests that were negative then you did not get syphilis from that encounter.
Did you ever have syphilis that you can remember and were treated?
I will repeat what Vance has already said. Your confirmatory tests were negative. YOU DO NOT HAVE SYPHILIS. I put it in caps to be sure you didn`t miss the message. Take care.
hello sir.. I just wanna ask a few things about my case. I had a TPHA test that resulted as (positive) actually not really. The clinic were i had the test said that its on the borderline,but they'd still put positive on the result so i can have second opinion at the hospital they have sent me... Later that I went to other hospital and have another test just to be sure..I took the RPR and FTA-ABS...
When i got the result my TPHA is negative, RPR non-reactive, but my FTA-ABS result is reactive..im jst worried,and i wanna know if i really have it..I've been faithful to my husband since the day i met him 2008.no other man had ever touched me..pls help..thnx