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Syphilis and Hiv testing
I had a syphilis test in 02, it came back RPR non reactive/FTA-ABS min.reactive. I was 15 at the time,I don’t remember much,& I think I got an injection.I had a chancre sore & was told I had syphilis at the time. A few years later I had flu symptoms and had a rash all over my body,I get rashes here and there now on my body. didnt see doc for that. now in '09 , I did an RPR , FTAABS and a TPPA and all of them were non reactive. im worried that what if the syphilis wasnt treated properly,I know rpr is not effective if you are in the late stage of syphilis,& I probably would be in that phase if I had it.1) I want to make sure that these tests are 100%, I'm very worried I might still have syphilis and it was not treated effectively. A reason im scared of false negative is because i was using a topical cream, lotriderm on my face at the time these blood tests were drawn, Is there any minute chance it would have affected my tests in 2009. Because I was using it for a long time on my face (sometimes 3 times a day for a few months on both cheeks),and I later found I wasn’t suppose to use it on the face because it can go into the bloodstream because facial skin is sensitive(the doctor that gave it to me was wrong for prescribing it for my face) , and im scared what if that medication of corticosteroids in my blood stream affected the tests at all. 2) I want to know would that med. have any effect on my test results at all on the RPR FTA-ABS and TPPA. 2a) Any miniscule chance at all that it can make those tests a false negative? 3)Are there any other tests you would recmomend for syphilis? Because RPR would be ineffective if your in late stage 4) do any medications effect the syphilis tests? Another issue I am worrying about is HIV.I took PEP post exposure,I tested 2 yrs later with an hiv antibodies test, and it was negative. Considering the window period gets extended . 5)Is an anti bodies test after 2 years of PEP treatment 120% 6)should i get another test like the PCR.
Quick question regarding syphilis test results...I wanted to know if someone had a previous test that showed reactive for syphilis and was treated by one inj. on each side of their buttock and about a year and a half later took another syphilis test and it shows non reactive using the methods of blood,RPRcard TP-PA could that mean the person never had syphilis in the beginning especially if they never went back for follow up prior to the new results confirming a non reactive. The reason for this question is causse my friend has syphilis and he said that the labwork from the moment he got syphilis and was treated and even if he took the syphilis test today that a Titer would always be present to let the Dr. Know he was infected cause his blood even though having his syphilis treated he states his blood is tinted and will always show as reactive for syphilis and if he's gotten reinfected they'd have to check his titel again that syphilis isn't something that is treated leaves the body and never again shows itself in another test..that they'll always be a titer regardless.is this true what's you imput?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
"I read up that fta abs and tppa can be innacurate in the tertiary stage (false negative)": Not true; it applies only to RPR. You read wrong or you found an unreliable source.
Please accept the reassurance you have been given. Drop syphilis from your mind. It is impossible that you have it.
That's truly the end of this thread.
Please accept the reassurance you have been given. Drop syphilis from your mind. It is impossible that you have it.
That's truly the end of this thread.
thank you doctor, yes i was sexually active at 15. thank you, i do understand you said you wont have any further advice, but i had one last question. I read up that fta abs and tppa can be innacurate in the tertiary stage (false negative) along with the rpr too, is this correct? cus thats what i would be in if i had it. that irritation on my face looks really similar to gumma plaque (round ring worm look, but wont go away with ringworm medication, i have 5 of them on my face) can those tests be innacurate in tertiary stage sometimes. I hope you can answer this last question. Thank you!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum.
I'm puzzled by the initial history. Were you sexually active at age 15? If so, your story sounds plausible: very early in syphilis (e.g., primary stage with a penile sore) the RPR often is negative but other tests are positive -- sometimes only weakly. However, it is also possible you never had syphilis at all, especially since the later tests were entirely negative. Penicillin therapy is highly reliable and so are the later blood tests. It is not possible to have syphilis and have negative RPR, FTA-ABS, and TPPA results.
Therefore, your test results mean one of two things is true: a) you never had syphilis at all; or b) you had syphilis but it was cured and has not returned. Either way, you can be sure you do not have it now. Something else is the cause of any and all symptoms you have. You need no additional diagnostic tests or treatment. No medicines have any effect on the test results. That takes care of questions 1-3.
As for questions 4 and 5, your negative HIV tests prove you did not catch HIV. If you have not had other potential high risk exposures to HIV, you do not need any addtional tests.
So definitely no worries about syphilis or HIV. Of course see a doctor or clinic about other causes of your symptoms, if they continue or you remains worred about them.
Regards-- HHH, MD
I'm puzzled by the initial history. Were you sexually active at age 15? If so, your story sounds plausible: very early in syphilis (e.g., primary stage with a penile sore) the RPR often is negative but other tests are positive -- sometimes only weakly. However, it is also possible you never had syphilis at all, especially since the later tests were entirely negative. Penicillin therapy is highly reliable and so are the later blood tests. It is not possible to have syphilis and have negative RPR, FTA-ABS, and TPPA results.
Therefore, your test results mean one of two things is true: a) you never had syphilis at all; or b) you had syphilis but it was cured and has not returned. Either way, you can be sure you do not have it now. Something else is the cause of any and all symptoms you have. You need no additional diagnostic tests or treatment. No medicines have any effect on the test results. That takes care of questions 1-3.
As for questions 4 and 5, your negative HIV tests prove you did not catch HIV. If you have not had other potential high risk exposures to HIV, you do not need any addtional tests.
So definitely no worries about syphilis or HIV. Of course see a doctor or clinic about other causes of your symptoms, if they continue or you remains worred about them.
Regards-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I saw these comments before I replied above. They make no difference in my opinion or advice. However, your comments about anxiety and stress do suggest you might benefit from professional counseling. You should discuss this with your primary care doctor or clinic. Also see the dermatologist as you are planning, but do not worry at all about syphilis or HIV.
That's all for this thread. I won't have any further advice.
That's all for this thread. I won't have any further advice.
FYI: i was using the cream for what the DR thought was ringworm, which went away but came back after i discontinued the cream, so i used the cream even longer, then i discontinued it again, the irritation came back, and plus my skin was addicted to the cream when i stopped , so it made my skin very rough and dry, i have an appointment with a dermatologist now. one more question i had 7) does taking anxiety meds, muscle supplements or quitting smoking affect the tests? (i was a strong smoker for 7 years and i quit few weeks before the tests) . sorry i just cannot sleep right now, worrying the worst.
P.s. i never had sexual contact with anyone a year before the tests in 2009 were taken up til present. Please respond to my numbered questions and also if you have extra information and knowledge to add on and provide that would be greatly appreciated as well. I just want to make sure I am clean of diseases, I have been getting alot of anxiety and stress thinking about this, sometimes to the point where it affects my daily life, and your opinion will make me understand things better and have a plan to take proper action if one is needed and calm my nerves. thank you in advance doc!!
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
