Is the syphilis rapid test accurate?

Syphilis is a dangerous disease caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum (spirochete syphilis). The disease causes serious complications on nerves, eyes, skin and mucous membranes if not detected and treated promptly. Currently, there are many test methods to diagnose syphilis. So syphilis quick test is accurate or not?

Syphilis is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Syphilis bacteria enter the body directly during unprotected sex (vaginal, anal or oral), through scratches on the skin and mucous membranes when in contact with secretions from the vagina. syphilis damage.
Syphilis spirochetes can also be transmitted from mother to child during the fetal period from the 4th month onwards, because this spirochete enters the fetal blood through the umbilical cord.
Due to the structure of the genitals in an open form, women are often more susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases than men, especially syphilis.

Syphilis rapid test method is a test method using TP Syphilis test strips that is currently used a lot in medical facilities because of its low cost, simple operation, and fast display of results. However, because of its high sensitivity, testing by this method has a high rate of false results.
Therefore, when the syphilis rapid test results are positive (or reactive), it is not possible to definitively conclude whether the patient has syphilis or not, but needs to do other tests to find out the results. The most accurate results are VDRL (microscopic examination of syphilis antibodies) and RPR (chemical paper test, visible to the naked eye) and TPHA agglutination test.

3.1. Specimen Specimens are serum or plasma.
Take 2ml of venous blood into serum tube or EDTA tube Centrifuge 3000 rpm for 5-10 minutes. 3.2. Equipment and tools Centrifuge Pipett Conical head Clock Gloves, protective cap Pen 3.3. Biological products Before testing, let biological products stabilize at room temperature (18-30°C) for about 15 - 30 minutes.
3.4. How to conduct rapid test sampling Get test strips suitable for the number of samples to be tested. Enter the patient's name or code in the coding area Remove protective cover Leave test strip on a clean, dry surface Small test sample: Place 50 μl of patient sample in the sample location. After 15 minutes read the results and do not read the results more than 30 minutes.
3.5. Read Test Sample Quality Check results: to ensure test value, Control line must appear. If the Control line does not turn red or pink, the test is invalid and the test needs to be repeated. The sample is not reactive: only a pink line in the Control → Negative Result area. Reaction sample: appears 1 pink line in Control area and 1 pink line in patient area → Positive result. See now: Can syphilis be cured?

Like the RPR test method, the TPHA syphilis test is also a serological test to detect syphilis spirochetes. This is the most effective test method available today, applicable to all stages of the disease.
Based on the principle of passive red blood cell agglutination, the TPHA syphilis test helps quickly find antibodies against syphilis bacteria in the serum (plasma) or in the cerebrospinal fluid of the patient. There are two methods of TPHA testing: qualitative TPHA test and quantitative TPHA test.
4.1. Qualitative TPHA test method Qualitative TPHA test is a method to detect antibodies against pathogenic spirochetes in serum. This test can only determine whether the patient has syphilis or not, completely cannot know the extent and development of the spirochete.
4.2. Quantitative TPHA test method The quantitative TPHA test is a syphilis test based on the principle of indirect red blood cell agglutination. In addition to the rapid detection of syphilis spirochetes, this test also quantifies syphilis antibody titers in the blood. From there, help the doctor understand the condition of the disease and come up with the most appropriate treatment plan.
In fact, the TPHA test method yields much more accurate results than the dark field microscopy test or the RPR reaction test. However, the cost of this syphilis test method is quite high. Therefore, it is necessary to consider and consult with your doctor before conducting this test method.
Negative result: Means no syphilis spirochetes were found and possibly no disease. However, you can have another screening test if you suspect you've been exposed to spirochetes. Positive result: This means that antibodies against syphilis spirochetes are present. That means you may have syphilis. However, it should be noted that there are some cases where false positive results can be obtained. The cause may be due to an existing leprosy, infectious mononucleosis, or a connective tissue disorder. At this point, you can perform other tests such as the FTA - ABS test to confirm.
Unknown results: It is possible that the test method is invalid or there are errors in the process or some other reason that the displayed test results will not be accepted. At this time, it is necessary to perform tests such as MHATP test, other FTA - ABS test to confirm.
TPHA test method is one of the most accurate tests to help diagnose syphilis. More effective than the conventional syphilis rapid test. Therefore, when you suspect you may have the disease, you can go to specialized medical facilities to perform this test. Pay attention to choose reputable addresses to get the most accurate results. Thereby detecting and treating the disease earlier to avoid dangerous consequences caused by syphilis.
In short, the diagnosis of syphilis needs a lot of information from: history, clinical, laboratory. It is difficult to make an accurate diagnosis of syphilis based on clinical alone. Rapid syphilis tests can help screen for early detection of the disease in diagnosis and treatment. However, it does not give absolutely accurate results. Therefore, you need to consult with your doctor or medical professional to choose the right test method for your situation.
With the continuous development of scientific progress, Vinmec International General Hospital has now deployed many test methods to diagnose syphilis. The diagnostic methods are performed by a team of qualified medical professionals with a system of modern medical equipment, ensuring highly accurate results. After having an accurate diagnosis of the disease, the doctors will come up with a treatment plan and advise the patient to ensure the fastest recovery.