If I tested false positive for syphilis... Could I have HIV?

[Lealeah]

I recently got a blood test done, and everything was fine except I tested false positive for syphilis. The RPR test indicated the antibodies that fight syphilis, but when the confirmation test came back it was negative (idk the test name). They told me to come back and retest in 6 months. I am super concerned this means I have something worse. Please please help me figure this out. Thanks.

[mkh9]

Firstly, they could have made a mistake on the RPR, or some people just test positive. Also, if you had  chickenpox, Lyme disease or certain types of pneumonia) or an autoimmune disease (such as lupus) these can give you a false positive too. I wouldn't really worry about it at this point since your FTA-antibody (probably the back up test they used which is standard) was negative. They usually do two tests The RPR first then FTA or FTA then RPR . If the second test is negative you are negative. About 20% of RPR test are also false negative. So it is an antibody test and not the most accurate. That is why they do two tests.
mkh9