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A 30-year-old male asked:
If a syphilitic rash occurres, its in secondary syphilis, right? so if i am worried my rash might be syphilis and testing is negative i can be sure it is not, since false-negative tests occur in primary but not secondary syphilis?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Jay Parkanswered
Pediatrics 52 years experience
Your hypothesis are not entirely true. False negative test on nontreponemal tests, e.g., VDRL or RPR test can still occur in individuals with high concentration of antibody against T pallidum (prozone phenomenon). Syphilis can be ruled out if both of nontreponemal & treponemal serologic test turns negative.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Reviewed Oct 26, 2022
Dr. Birendra Tandananswered
Urology 36 years experience
False neg tests can occur with any test and stage of disease. But are rare. Nothing in life or medicine is 100%. Chances are you are going to be OK so dont worry
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Answered Oct 18, 2022
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A 28-year-old male asked about a male:
Rashes on penis which comes and go.Feels like worms crawling inside. Test shows negative for both syphilis and gorno. Any good medication?
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A 36-year-old female asked:
Is the rash of secondary syphilis contagious? In the answers of the doctors on this page, they write different information. I'm primarily thinking of the palms, since they are the most exposed part od body. Can direct contact with rash spread Syp.?
Dr. James Fergusonanswered
Pediatrics 48 years experience
No.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Reviewed Nov 08, 2022
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A 30-year-old male asked:
Is that possible that syphilis rash on hand only last for 2 day and then go? i read that secondary syphilis rash can stay for a week, i had rapid syphilis and negative?
Dr. Jay Parkanswered
Pediatrics 52 years experience
Some basics:
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Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
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Dr. James Krickanswered
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Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
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A 23-year-old male asked:
Had unprotected receptive anal sex in 2020. 6 months later (177 days) all std negative. Syphilis test - rapid plasma reagin. No sex since then. no sore /lesion. Rash on hands (like that in syphilis) in 2023. Was test conclusive? Need to test again ?
Dr. Hunter Handsfieldanswered
Infectious Disease 55 years experience
The test is conclusive, but there's always the minor risk of a glitch in the test. If you remain concerned, have another RPR. You can expect another n... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Answered Mar 27, 2022
1 comment
Dr. Hunter Handsfield commented
Infectious Disease 55 years experience
Provided original answer
TPHA testing is designed to confirm POSITIVE initial test results (like RPR). It is never positive if RPR or other initial testing is negative. It would be a waste of money to have a TPHA.
Mar 28, 2022
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Last updated Oct 26, 2022
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