Treponema pallidum (Syphilis)

Syphilis testing is performed using U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared assays, namely the ALINITY Syphilis TP Assay (Abbott Diagnostics) for screening, and both the RPR (ASI), and Serodia TP-PA (Fujirebio Diagnostics) for confirmation testing. The performance characteristics of these assays were verified by the Rhode Island State Health Laboratories.

The Centers for Disease Control's syphilis reverse algorithm should be followed to interpret the combined laboratory results and should be used in conjunction with the patient's clinical symptoms, medical history, and other clinical/laboratory findings to determine an overall clinical diagnosis.

Note that reactive test results could represent a new syphilis infection but could also represent previously treated disease. Please call the RI State Health Laboratory for further clarification, if needed.