Sep 9, 2024 · False-positive nontreponemal test results can be associated with multiple medical conditions and factors unrelated to syphilis, including other infections (e.g., HIV), autoimmune conditions, vaccinations, injecting drug use, pregnancy, and older age (566, 569).

Mar 1, 2024 · This article discusses if false-positive syphilis tests are possible. It also discusses what false-positive tests mean, what causes them, and what other infections can be mistaken for...

The alert reports that false reactivity, or "false-positive," Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR; non-treponemal) test results, when using the Bio-Rad Laboratories BioPlex 2200 Syphilis Total & RPR kit, can occur in some people who received a COVID-19 vaccine and includes recommendations for addressing these potential false positives.

A false-positive test for syphilis means that the test is abnormal (or positive) despite the absence of syphilis. Another test (called the FTA) can rule out or confirm syphilis if the first screening test (called the RPR) is positive.

Discordant syphilis test results, with a reactive nontreponemal test and nonreactive treponemal test are usually considered biological false-positive test results (BFPs), which can be attributed to other conditions.

For this reason, it is critical to identify and minimize analytical false-positive results. In this report, we demonstrate that the SYPHG value can help to inform this decision and can be used when developing a strategy for reflex testing.

One of the primary reasons for false positives in syphilis testing is cross-reactivity with other infections. Conditions such as HIV, Lyme disease, and certain autoimmune disorders can produce similar antibodies that may react in non-treponemal tests.

The chance of a false-positive syphilis test is about 1% to 2%. “False positive” means the test is positive but the patient, in reality, does not have syphilis. In the table below are the most important conditions that can cause a false-positive test (both treponemal and nontreponemal tests):

Jul 23, 2023 · A false positive syphilis test means the test looks as if it is positive for syphilis, but it is not. In other words, the test result comes back positive, but the person does not actually have syphilis. False positive syphilis tests are possible with both treponemal and nontreponemal tests.

Jul 20, 2023 · False-positive results are those in which you don't have an infection but the test says you do. Other factors can influence a test's accuracy, including how common or uncommon a condition is. Certain STI tests also have window periods in which a test may return a false-negative result if it is performed too soon after STI exposure.