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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Does The Result Partial Reactive From STD Test Suggest?

I got a syphilis blood test for school matters about 2 weeks ago, I received my results today and they were quite alarming. I am 19 years old and have been sexually active with my husband for 9 months. He has had STD testing done for the military and he has come back clean, and he has only been sexually active with me. My results were partially reactive(it showed two parts on the written results: REACTIVE 1:2, and NON REACTIVE). The nurse said any viruses or vaccinations could affect the results (the only thing I had before getting the syphilis blood test was a TB test a couple of weeks before), and she will test me again in one month. I am scared. I dont have any syphilis symptoms and I have never had them, no chancres, rashes, etc, etc. What could the results mean? A false positive? please give me some insight on this issue. Thank you.
posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Twitter Wed, 26 Nov 2014 Answered on
Twitter Wed, 26 Nov 2014 Last reviewed on
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Dermatologist,  's  Response
Hello. Thanks for writing to us at healthcaremagic

VDRL can be Biologic falsely positive (BFP), specially if it is in low titres such as in your case.
Moreover, it is not a confirmatory test for syphilis.
Many infectious diseases have been reported as causes of transient biologic false positive VDRL e.g malaria, leprosy, tuberculosis, infectious mononucleosis; pregnancy and immunizations etc are also causes of transient BFP reactivity among many others. Connective tissue disease may cause a chronic BFP reactivity.
History may be helpful in these cases, specially in those who are unlikely to have been infected with syphilis.
Upto 10% to 15% of patients may give a false positive test result with VDRL.
Therefore, a low titre positive VDRL should always be followed up with a specific test for syphilis like TPHA test, which would be conclusive.

Regards
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What Does The Result Partial Reactive From STD Test Suggest?

Hello. Thanks for writing to us at healthcaremagic VDRL can be Biologic falsely positive (BFP), specially if it is in low titres such as in your case. Moreover, it is not a confirmatory test for syphilis. Many infectious diseases have been reported as causes of transient biologic false positive VDRL e.g malaria, leprosy, tuberculosis, infectious mononucleosis; pregnancy and immunizations etc are also causes of transient BFP reactivity among many others. Connective tissue disease may cause a chronic BFP reactivity. History may be helpful in these cases, specially in those who are unlikely to have been infected with syphilis. Upto 10% to 15% of patients may give a false positive test result with VDRL. Therefore, a low titre positive VDRL should always be followed up with a specific test for syphilis like TPHA test, which would be conclusive. Regards