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What Does My Syphilis Serologic Test Result Of Minimally Reactive Indicate?

Posted on Mon, 21 Nov 2016

Question: What causes a fta-abs syphilis test to be minimal reactive? And is a minimal reactive result common for that type of test?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (51 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
This is cinsidered negative test

Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome.
Minimally reactive serologic test for syphilis is actually negative and you should not worry. Only if you have some clear sign of syphilis,it may be questionable test and you should repeat this,otherwise,you are safe. Wish you good health. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (45 minutes later)

Is there a specific reason why it would come out minimally negative, like maybe another infection or something else that would cause it to produce the antibody for that result? And is that result pretty common? Also if i did have syphilis it would show up as fully reactive instead of minimally reactive, is that correct?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (14 hours later)

Brief Answer:
hi

Detailed Answer:
Yes, it would show up as fully or moderate reactive.
Minimal reactive may be false positive test or may be test that detects that you were exposed to some other microbes such as CMV or herpes virus or some other bacterias, streptoccocal angina or some other STD. SO we consider this as to be negative for syphilis.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (50 minutes later)

So could the herpes that causes cold sores or malaria in the past caused my results to be minimally reactive? And syphillis is definately ruled out correct?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hi

Detailed Answer:
Yes,malaria and herpes may cause such results. However,syphilis can't be ruled out100% and this minimal reactivity may be equivocal in some cases and may indicate previous syphilis infection or recent healed infection. Wish you good health. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (42 minutes later)

Even if it was syphilis causing the minimal reactivty, would it be a current infection or would it most likely mean it was a previous infection that may have healed on it's own? Im jus a little confused because i thought you meant if it was really syphilis it would show up as moderate reactive or fully reactive.t

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (56 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Hi

Detailed Answer:
most likely previous infection. Current infection would cause more reactivity and already 1 week after exposure there would be enough antibodies which would be detected and result would be high reactive. Only if test was done 1-2 days after possible exposure,minimal reactivity could mean infection which didn't develop yet completely.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (30 minutes later)

Ive never been diagnosed with syphilis and my last sexual exposure was over 4 months ago. Ive also gotten a rpr test that was negative and another rpr a few months before my last exposure so does that rule out syphilis? Or could it stillbe considered syphilis that hasnt developed completely yet? One other question, can i develop syphilis and didnt have symptoms for the first and secondary stage, and if symptoms shows up for the last stage would i still be able to get treated in a right amount of time without having permanant damage to my brain?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (29 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hi

Detailed Answer:
Well, if there was syphilis infection then you would definitely have symptoms already if this was 4 months ago. Also, test would be highly reactive after this period. It is not possible to have third stage without first and second one so this scenario is not possible.

Don't worry

Take Care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (2 days later)

So lets say an exposure that was 5 years ago would show up as fully reactive or moderate reactive and not minimally reactive with the FTA-ABS syphilis test?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (2 days later)

Brief Answer:
yes

Detailed Answer:
Probably it would show up as mdoerate reactive since there are lifetime antibodies after syphilis infection and these are always easily detected. Minimally reactive is practically negative results unless in some cases when there is immunocompromised patients who did not develop antibodies.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. REMY KOSHY