A blood test for syphilis, a bacterial sexually transmitted infection.
This is a screening test for syphilis, an infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It looks for the body's response to this bacterium, usually through antibodies in the blood.
Syphilis develops in stages and can be silent for long periods. A blood test is the standard way to detect it, including in people who have no symptoms.
Syphilis is straightforward to treat with antibiotics when found, but if left undetected it can cause serious problems over time. Because it can stay symptom-free, screening is the reliable way to catch it. It is also a routine part of sexual health and pregnancy care.
A non-reactive result is reassuring. A reactive screen needs further testing to confirm a diagnosis and to work out whether the infection is current or already treated.
Aniva reads your result against research-backed ranges, not just the lab's wide normal. The reference shown below is specific to this biomarker.
This test is reported qualitatively. The expected result for someone without syphilis is Negative or Non-reactive.
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Non-reactive (negative) | No evidence of syphilis detected |
| Reactive | Needs confirmatory testing before any diagnosis |
A reactive screen is not a diagnosis. Confirmation uses a defined testing algorithm. Cutoffs are set by the assay and may vary by laboratory.
You learn whether the screen is negative or reactive. A negative result means no evidence of syphilis was found at this time. A reactive result is followed by confirmatory testing to establish whether the infection is active, recent, or from the past.
Antibodies take time to appear, so very early infection can be missed. Some screening methods can stay reactive for life after successful treatment. Rare false-reactive results occur with certain other conditions, which is why a reactive screen always needs confirmation. Fasting does not affect the result.
Read with confirmatory treponemal and non-treponemal tests, such as TPPA and RPR/VDRL, and with your clinical and exposure history.
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