Syphilis Test
Other names: FTA; TPHA; VDRL; RPR
The test is used to detect the presence of the Trepona pallidum bacterium, which causes syphilis. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection, which is spread through unprotected sexual intercourse; in most cases, it can be treated quickly and effectively but it can cause serious effects if left untreated.
When is the test used?
The test is used to detect the presence of a syphilis infection or antibodies to the Trepona pallidum bacterium, which causes syphilis.
The test may be carried out if a patient has symptoms of an infection, including the development of chancres (sores) on the genitals or in the throat; the test may also be carried out if a patient is receiving treatment for another sexually transmitted infection or the patient is pregnant (if left untreated, syphilis can cause serious problems for the developing foetus).
How is the test done?
The test is carried out by taking and analysing a sample of the patient’s blood; the blood is taken from a vein in the patient’s arm (usually on the inside of the elbow) and the sample is then placed in a bottle, labelled with the patient’s name and sent off to the laboratory for analysis.
Other tests, including scraping from a sore on the affected area of the body and a lumbar puncture (for patients who are suspected of having advanced symptoms) may also be carried out.
What do the test results mean?
If the scraping test detects the presence of the syphilis bacterium, this indicates that the patient has an active syphilis infection; the patient will usually be prescribed a course of antibiotics if this is the case.
If the results of the blood test reveal the presence of antibodies to the bacterium, this indicates that the patient has an active infection or they have had an infection in the past.
If a patient gets a positive result, they should advise anyone they have had sexual relations with to get a test; STI tests can be done at GP surgeries, local GUM (genitourinary medicine) clinics and sexual health clinics.
Specific Blood Tests
- Specific Blood Tests
- Factor V Leiden Mutation and PT 20210 Mutation
- Ferritin Test
- Fibrinogen
- Fructosamine
- FSH Test
- G6PD
- Gastrin
- GGT
- Glucose test
- Growth hormone
- Haemoglobin
- Haptoglobin
- HbA1c test
- HDL Cholesterol Test
- Helicobacter Pylori test
- Heparin Anti-Xa
- Hepatitis A Virus
- Hepatitis B Virus
- Hepatitis C Virus
- Her-2/neu Testing
- Heterophil Antibody Titre
- High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein
- HIV Antibody Test
- HIV Resistance Testing
- HIV Viral Load
- IGF-1
- Immunoreactive Trypsin
- Insulin
- Iron test
- LDH
- LDL Cholesterol Test
- Lead Test
- LH Test
- Lipase Test
- Lipoprotein (a)
- Lithium
- Lupus Anticoagulant
- Lyme disease test
- Maternal screening
- Mercury, Urine and Blood
- Mycophenolic Acid
- Myoglobin Test
- Oestrogen
- Osmolality
- Overdose Drug Test
- Paracetamol
- Parathyroid Hormone
- Parvovirus B19
- PCV
- Pertussis
- Phenobarbital
- Phenytoin
- Phospate
- Platelet Count
- Porphyrins
- Potassium Test
- Prealbumin Test
- Procalcitonin
- Progesterone Test
- Prolactin
- Prostate-Specific Antigen
- Protein 24 Capsid Antigen
- Protein C and Protein S
- Protein Electrophoresis Immunofixation Electrophoresis
- Prothrombin Time
- PSEN1 Test
- PTH
- Reticulocyte count
- Rheumatoid factor
- Rubella test
- Salicylic Acid
- Serotonin
- Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
- Sickle Cell Test
- Sirolimus
- Smooth Muscle Antibody
- Sodium Test
- Soluble Mesothelin-Related Peptides
- Synacthen Test
- Syphilis Test
- Tacrolimus
- Tau protein
- Testosterone Test
- Theophylline & Caffeine
- Thiopurine s-methyltransferase
- Thyroglobulin (Tg)
- Thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb)
- Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone
- Thyroxine
- TIBC, UIBC & Transferring
- TORCH Test
- Total Protein test
- Triiodothyronine
- Triglycerides Test
- Troponin test
- Urea test
- Uric Acid
- Valproic Acid
- Vancomycin
- Very Low Density Lipoprotein
- Vitamin B12 and Folate
- Vitamin D
- West Nile Virus
- White blood cell differential count
- Zinc Protoporphyrin
- Activated Clotting Time
- ACTH
- Albumin
- Aldosterone and Renin
- Alkaline Phosphatase Test
- Allergen-Specific IgE Antibody Test
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin
- Alpha-Fetoprotein
- ALT
- AMA
- Ammonia
- Amylase Test
- Angiotensin Converting Enzyme
- Antinuclear Antibody
- Antithrombin
- Apolipoprotein A-I
- Apolipoprotein E Genotyping
- aPTT
- AST
- Bicarbonate
- Bilirubin
- Blood cultures
- Blood film
- Blood Gas Tests
- Blood Ketones
- Brain Natriuretic Peptide
- BRCA-1 & BRCA-2
- CA 125
- Cancer Antigen 15-3
- Cancer Antigen 19-9
- C-peptide
- Caeruloplasmin
- Calcitonin
- Calcium Test
- Carbamazepine
- Cardiac Risk Assessment
- Cardiolipin Antobodies
- Catecholamines, Plasma and Urine
- CCP
- CD4 and CD8
- CEA Test
- CF Gene Mutation Testing
- Chickenpox and Shingles Tests
- Chloride Test
- Cholesterol Test
- Chlorinesterase Test
- Chromogranin A
- Ciclosporin
- CMV
- Coagulation Factors
- Coeliac Disease Tests
- Copper
- Cortisol Test
- Creatine Kinase CK-MB Test
- Creatine Kinase Test
- Creatinine
- Creatinine Clearance
- C-Reactive Protein
- Cystatin C
- D-Dimer
- DHEAS
- Digoxin
- Direct LDL cholesterol
- eGFR - Calc. Creatinine Clearance
- Electrolytes
- Epstein-Barr Virus Antibodies
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
- Erythropoietin
- Ethanol
Blood Test Guide
- Blood Tests
- Types of blood tests
- what to expect
- What are the risks of blood tests?
- What do blood tests show?
- Specific Blood Tests