RPR question

[iori]

is the RPR test the 6 week test or is the VDRL the 6 week one?

[Vance2335]

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.

[iori]

so the rpr is the best at detecting it early.
the place i go to uses both i think

[iori]

do the members who post on the expert forums have to pay a fee to post?

[rsks]

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.

[Dallasfan]

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.

[rsks]

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?

[Vance2335]

If you are positive then they do a confirmation test...if negative then you are negative.
no rpr scare?? what does this mean?

[rsks]

Thank you for the reply. By scare, I meant do I have to worry about RPR? How can I make sure that I am free from RPR?

[Vance2335]

The RPR is a test.

[iori]

lol. hah haha. that was funny.

[rsks]

:-) I know it's funny. I thought you'd laugh but also answer... Do I have syphilis and How can I make sure?

[Vance2335]

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.

[rsks]

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?

[Vance2335]

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?

[Dallasfan]

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.