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Syphilis testing
Okay 9 months ago I had sex protected sex at a massage parlor in Dallas Texas, 4 weeks later I went in for a std testing because it kinda felt weird when I urinated so the gave me some antibiotics just in case I had chlamydia or gonorrhea following week all my results came negative besides hsv1 which I had since high school, then two weeks later I got back with an ex we are together still but last week she did some std testing (at this time it has been 9 months since I had sex with a female sex worker) all of her results came back negative but her rpr titer was 1:2 but the confirmatory test was negative and so I tested for std my hiv(4th generation) was negative, my hsv1 was positive, hsv2 negative, hep B antigen surface test negative, hep c test was negative but my rpr titer came back positive at titer 1:1 but they didn’t do a confirmation test, but this past Monday they gave me 2 shots of Penicillin and this coming up Monday I will see my doctor again to do another rpr test and a confirmation test. But these past 9 months I haven’t had any symptoms just a upset
So my question are could I be infected with syphilis?
Are my results (1:1) a high score or a low test?
Why did my gf rpr test came back positive and the confirmation test negative it’s been over 7-8 months and we have been seeing only each other?
So my question are could I be infected with syphilis?
Are my results (1:1) a high score or a low test?
Why did my gf rpr test came back positive and the confirmation test negative it’s been over 7-8 months and we have been seeing only each other?
Sorry just didn’t know what the do, but my new doctor that I am seeing she told me that rpr should be used to diagnose only to be used if the treatment is working, she said for women false positive can be caused by autoimmune disease or pregnant, since I am male I can’t get pregnant she told normally for guys she said it could be a fluke or autoimmune I make have a blood clot but she ruling that out and she said it’s uncommon for guys to have autoimmune disease
2 Comments
RPR false positives are not gender-related. They are not always related to pregnancy or autoimmune diseases. The statement "it is uncommon for guys to have autoimmune disease" is a very strange and has little to do with medical science.
Get a new doctor.
First, there are hundreds of autoimmune disorders, and it's not uncommon for men to get them. As grobick and I have said, and low levels like you and your gf have, it's not alarming.
All of this worry is really out of proportion. Your doctor also said it could be a fluke - go with that. Even if you ever got syphilis, it's easily cured with antibiotics. There's no need to worry so much.
First, there are hundreds of autoimmune disorders, and it's not uncommon for men to get them. As grobick and I have said, and low levels like you and your gf have, it's not alarming.
All of this worry is really out of proportion. Your doctor also said it could be a fluke - go with that. Even if you ever got syphilis, it's easily cured with antibiotics. There's no need to worry so much.
Well my last doctor told me if I truly had syphilis my titer would be higher than 1:1
11 Comments
Okay, let's keep everything to one thread so we can all keep up. (By all, I mean me lol.)
I'd be very surprised if this ends up positive. All you can do is wait, but really, I can't imagine this being positive. Take a breath - it's going to be okay, even if it's positive. It's easily cured.
I'd be very surprised if this ends up positive. All you can do is wait, but really, I can't imagine this being positive. Take a breath - it's going to be okay, even if it's positive. It's easily cured.
I was told update after further testing didn’t specified on the same form or make a new one, I have seen what the syphilis sores look like google images but had nothing like that, because I check my penis or genitalia region. I just want to know why did the RPR false positive triggered is there something else wrong that I need to pay attention to.
Not at those levels - that could just be a fluke. It could be an error by the person reading them, an issue with a machine in the lab, or who knows what. You'll never know.
If your titers were higher, I'd be more inclined to dig for a reason why you'd have a false positive - and there are some conditions that can trigger that for syphilis, but not for a 1:1, and not with you getting a negative this time.
And it's okay that you started a new thread - you aren't in any kind of trouble. I just have a hard time keeping it all straight otherwise.
If your titers were higher, I'd be more inclined to dig for a reason why you'd have a false positive - and there are some conditions that can trigger that for syphilis, but not for a 1:1, and not with you getting a negative this time.
And it's okay that you started a new thread - you aren't in any kind of trouble. I just have a hard time keeping it all straight otherwise.
My gf having titer of 1:2 is that high?
My other results
Hsv1 positive 2.33
Hsv2 <.10 negative
HIV 4th generation: negative
HEP C: negative
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen: negative
Hsv1 positive 2.33
Hsv2 <.10 negative
HIV 4th generation: negative
HEP C: negative
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen: negative
The problem is RPR test alone should never be used to diagnose syphilis. It often produces false positive results and is unreliable for detection of early primary syphilis.
That is why it always should backed up by a specific treponemal test (in your case it is FTA-ABS).
There is no use guessing if 1:1 or 1:2 titers are high or low, true or false positives. Confirmation tests will tell it for sure.
Anyway, your worrying is totally unwarranted. Stop googling for syphilis pictures at once: syphilis isn't diagnosed by pictures. What you really should do is to wait patiently for your test results.
If your FTA-ABS test is negative you don't have syphilis.
If your girlfriend's treponemal test (FTA, TPPA, EIA or whatever they use in your region), you shouldn't worry about RPR results.
That is why it always should backed up by a specific treponemal test (in your case it is FTA-ABS).
There is no use guessing if 1:1 or 1:2 titers are high or low, true or false positives. Confirmation tests will tell it for sure.
Anyway, your worrying is totally unwarranted. Stop googling for syphilis pictures at once: syphilis isn't diagnosed by pictures. What you really should do is to wait patiently for your test results.
If your FTA-ABS test is negative you don't have syphilis.
If your girlfriend's treponemal test (FTA, TPPA, EIA or whatever they use in your region), you shouldn't worry about RPR results.
So since my girlfriend treponema pallidum AB was negative so I should get the same results?
Correct, you should expect negative results for your FTA-ABS test.
There is a guide for interpreting syphilis blood test. Positive RPR, negative treponemal test = no syphilis. That is just the rule of the thumb. Treponemal tests are more sensitive and very reliable (false negatives are almost non-existent).
There are certain exceptions, but none are valid in your or your gf's case.
You shouldn't worry. Just wait for your test results and move on. Take care.
There is a guide for interpreting syphilis blood test. Positive RPR, negative treponemal test = no syphilis. That is just the rule of the thumb. Treponemal tests are more sensitive and very reliable (false negatives are almost non-existent).
There are certain exceptions, but none are valid in your or your gf's case.
You shouldn't worry. Just wait for your test results and move on. Take care.
My FTA-ABS came back negative, so getting the two shot of Penicillin G was a waste I am assuming
Yes, now the testing is conclusive. You don't have syphilis (and never had). Congrats on that!
Those two shots of Penicillin G were completely unnecessary. And your worries too :) Glad it is over now.
You should consider getting a new healthcare provider, since treating "syphilis" without confirming it is just wrong. I would never come back to such a doctor/hospital/laboratory.
Take care!
Those two shots of Penicillin G were completely unnecessary. And your worries too :) Glad it is over now.
You should consider getting a new healthcare provider, since treating "syphilis" without confirming it is just wrong. I would never come back to such a doctor/hospital/laboratory.
Take care!
I fully agree with all of this. Treating you at a 1:1 without a confirmation test was alarmist and unnecessary.
For reference, I have seen test results go as high as 1:256, and on charts, they go up to 1:512. Find a new doctor, at least for your sexual health.
Best of luck.
For reference, I have seen test results go as high as 1:256, and on charts, they go up to 1:512. Find a new doctor, at least for your sexual health.
Best of luck.
So I contacted the Laboratory that did my testing they never did a confirmation test for the syphilis because I didn’t ordered it but from what I read I thought that test was supposed to be done if the rpr is positive, even for my one month std panel test they did a confirmation test even the rpr was negative
4 Comments
It is horrifying that they didn't do a confirmation test. It's hard to say what is happening without that. It's odd that both you and your gf have low positives, but not unheard of.
We just really need to get your confirmation test done, and we can go from there. Try to hang in there until then.
We just really need to get your confirmation test done, and we can go from there. Try to hang in there until then.
Yes I am irritated because the lab where it was tested acted like it should be common knowledge to know about these test, my nurse said that simply inflammation could trigger the rpr that’s how sensitive it is she said my titer should be above 1:8 if I truly had syphilis, she had cases where people’s hsv caused a false positive
What kind of doctor is this?
Herpes doesn't cause a false positive on a syphilis test. And above a 1:8? You can have a 1:2 and have syphilis.
Please get this testing straightened out, and then find a new doc.
Herpes doesn't cause a false positive on a syphilis test. And above a 1:8? You can have a 1:2 and have syphilis.
Please get this testing straightened out, and then find a new doc.
So I just got retested this passed Monday my rpr came back negative now I am waiting on the confirm test witch is a FTA it’s should be in by today but my new doctor told me it’s still pending so I am nervous right now
So I contacted the Laboratory that did my testing they never did a confirmation test for the syphilis because I didn’t ordered it but from what I read I thought that test was supposed to be done if the rpr is positive, even for my one month std panel test they did a confirmation test even the rpr was negative
RPR test works like that: 1:1 and 1:2 up to 1:8 are "low titers" and 1:16 and more are high titers. The bigger is the number, the more probable the diagnosis of syphilis is.
RPR test is a screening test and it is notorious for producing false positives, so it should be backed up by a more specific treponemal test (like tppa, eia, there are a few). If a confirmatory TPPA test for your partner was negative, then her low titer RPR 1:2 must be a false positive.
Your RPR 1:1 without treponemal test is inconclusive, it should be rechecked and confirmed.
Syphilis is not common in the US among females. Your exposure was protected which dramatically lowers your risk. Did you have any symptoms like sores or rashes?
RPR test is a screening test and it is notorious for producing false positives, so it should be backed up by a more specific treponemal test (like tppa, eia, there are a few). If a confirmatory TPPA test for your partner was negative, then her low titer RPR 1:2 must be a false positive.
Your RPR 1:1 without treponemal test is inconclusive, it should be rechecked and confirmed.
Syphilis is not common in the US among females. Your exposure was protected which dramatically lowers your risk. Did you have any symptoms like sores or rashes?
6 Comments
No I haven’t had any symptoms neither has she I read online that I would have sores on my penis, hands and feet or rashes but I haven’t, but I read my first std panel which was one month from exposure it had a rpr and a confirmatory which was both negative can syphilis be detected 4 weeks after exposure? My tester said 21 days is the window period but the doctor at the emergency room said no it was to early to test.
If I truly had syphilis would she pop positive on both theoretically speaking I still want to see what’s going on with my pcp
Her confirm test was a Treponema Pallidum AB test which was negative
No, 21 day is not a window period, it is a median incubation period (average time before symptoms appear), window period for testing is a bit longer (4-6 weeks, estimates differ).
It is generally advisable to test for syphilis 6 weeks past exposure and retest at 12 weeks, if there is high suspicion of possible infection (i.e. we are sure you were exposed or you developed characteristic symptoms, neither of which was your case).
RPR test is not too reliable before 6 weeks, but any TP test at 6 weeks is as good as conclusive.
"Theoretically speaking" it is possible you have syphilis, equally possible you are going to be crushed by a meteor rain tomorrow after lunch. "Theoretically speaking" anything is possible.
But things are much more boring in real life. And a false positive low titer RPR happens quite often (that is why in some places they only use RPR to monitor the progression and treatment effect of a confirmed diagnosis).
You shouldn't be worried about that 9 months exposure. RPR titers would be usually quite high in case of a 9 month old infection, not 1:1.
You should retest (preferably with both RPR and TP-ab) and expect a negative result. It would be nice if you update on your results.
It is generally advisable to test for syphilis 6 weeks past exposure and retest at 12 weeks, if there is high suspicion of possible infection (i.e. we are sure you were exposed or you developed characteristic symptoms, neither of which was your case).
RPR test is not too reliable before 6 weeks, but any TP test at 6 weeks is as good as conclusive.
"Theoretically speaking" it is possible you have syphilis, equally possible you are going to be crushed by a meteor rain tomorrow after lunch. "Theoretically speaking" anything is possible.
But things are much more boring in real life. And a false positive low titer RPR happens quite often (that is why in some places they only use RPR to monitor the progression and treatment effect of a confirmed diagnosis).
You shouldn't be worried about that 9 months exposure. RPR titers would be usually quite high in case of a 9 month old infection, not 1:1.
You should retest (preferably with both RPR and TP-ab) and expect a negative result. It would be nice if you update on your results.
I got retest Monday
So I just got retested this passed Monday my rpr came back negative now I am waiting on the confirm test witch is a FTA it’s should be in by today but my new doctor told me it’s still pending so I am nervous right now
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You are reading content posted in the STDs / STIs Community
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.
