What does a positive RPR blood test mean?
A positive test result may mean that you have syphilis. If the screening test is positive, the next step is to confirm the diagnosis with a more specific test for syphilis, such as FTA-ABS. The FTA-ABS test will help distinguish between syphilis and other infections or conditions.
Can HIV blood test detect syphilis?
The introduction of rapid point-of-care tests (RDTs) that can detect both HIV and syphilis, using one single blood specimen, would be a promising tool to integrate the detection of syphilis into HIV programmes and so improve the accessibility of syphilis testing and treatment.
What can cause positive RPR?
Some conditions may cause a false-positive test, including:
- IV drug use.
- Lyme disease.
- Certain types of pneumonia.
- Malaria.
- Pregnancy.
- Systemic lupus erythematosus and some other autoimmune disorders.
- Tuberculosis (TB)
How is HIV and syphilis tested?
To conduct the HIV and Syphilis tests, only a single blood sample is required. The test for HIV detects the presence of HIV antibodies which are produced in response to exposure to the virus, and found in the blood of someone who is infected.
Can RPR be false positive?
The RPR test also can produce false-positive results, suggesting you have syphilis when you actually don’t. One reason for a false positive is the presence of another disease that produces antibodies similar to the ones produced during a syphilis infection.
Will a blood test always show syphilis?
Only your doctor can know for sure whether you have syphilis. They’ll give you a physical exam, check your genitals, and look for skin rashes or sores called chancres. You’ll also have a blood test. Results typically come back within a few days.
How do I know if my RPR is positive?
A treponemal test is often used to confirm the positive test. Treponemal tests check whether your immune system has produced specific antibodies in direct response to the syphilis-causing Treponema pallidum.
Can RPR be cured?
Over time it can cause numbness, paralysis, blindness, and even death. But it can be easily cured if treated in the early stages. Treatment involves receiving one or more shots of a form of penicillin (penicillin G benzathine). The RPR test looks for antibodies that react to syphilis in the blood.
When does RPR turn positive?
It takes 14 to 21 days after infection with the spirochetes for your body’s immune response to be found by the test.