How does the Patris Health® Syphilis Test work?
The syphilis test is a serological (blood) test that detects IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies against Treponema pallidum. The sample is blood from your finger, which you take yourself and add to the testing device. The test kit includes devices for taking blood from the finger - a lancet, a dropper and an alcohol wipe. Antibodies appear in the blood of an infected individual after infection (about 5 weeks after infection in the case of syphilis). Antibodies are produced by the immune system, which then circulate in the blood through the body, looking for foreign bodies - in the case of syphilis, the bacterium Treponema pallidum - to eliminate.
When after sex is it reasonable to get tested for syphilis?
It must be at least 5 weeks after sexual intercourse for syphilis testing to be meaningful. The incubation period varies between individuals. The concentration of treponemal antibodies increases over time and peaks one to two years after infection. In most infected people, specific antibodies can be detected five weeks after infection (6-14 days after the primary chancre develops).1 If you have had risky sexual contact and the syphilis test is negative, repeat the tests in the following weeks. It is possible that the antibody concentration is still not high enough for the test to detect.
Is the test also useful for monitoring the course of treatment?
No. Once you are infected, the antibodies against T. pallidum remain in your body for life, even though you have been successfully treated (you no longer have syphilis). Be aware that you can become infected again and get syphilis. Serological tests to detect treponemal antibodies are not useful for assessing the effectiveness of treatment.2 Consult your doctor about the appropriate test.
How long after infection do antibodies remain in the blood?
We often receive the question from individuals who are interested in whether they have been infected at any time in the past. Antibodies characteristic of syphilis remain in the blood for life. If someone was infected 10, 20, 40 or more years ago, a syphilis test still makes sense. With the exception of chancre (ulcer), which is a characteristic sign of syphilis, other symptoms such as fever and headache were quickly overlooked. When syphilis enters a latent phase (a period of dormancy), no symptoms appear.3 This means that a person can live with syphilis for many years without even knowing it.
How reliable and accurate is the syphilis test?
The Patris Health® syphilis test is at least 97% accurate. In three clinical studies, it showed the correct result in 97% of cases. The clinical evaluation study covered 1661 cases, including infected individuals and confirmed blood samples. The test is based on reliable and proven technology. It has been used for medical purposes for more than 15 years. The Patris Health® syphilis test is manufactured in France from high-quality materials to ISO13485 standard. The test is CE0483 certified in Germany and approved for self-testing by a European Notified Body.
What to do if the test doesn't work?
If for any reason the test does not work, please take a photo of it and email the photo to info@nyd.care. Please note that the test kits are easy to use and developed especially for individuals with no experience. Errors occur mainly when the instructions for use are not followed exactly. Testing steps should not be skipped. The test kit contains detailed and illustrative instructions for use. If you follow them carefully, you will not have any problems.