Question: Hello, I had STD's HIV chlamydia etc test As I had a scare all results were negative except for Syphilis I was told by my Doctor that i was not contagious for Syphilis at this moment and it was not syphilis aquired anytime in the last few months. Also I may have unknowingly contracted it and treated it by antibiotics some time in the past. I have never had any visual symtoms now or in the past. He Went as far as to say that I may even have contracted and cured it any where in the last few years or decades ago.
Here are my Results. Tested my blood one week apart. 2 weeks ago.

RPR AB TITRE Non reactive
T.pallidum IgG Reactive
T.P.P.A. Reactive
F.T.A. Abs. Reactive
Clinical Notes :
Syphilis Confirmatory Serology(referred)

2nd test
VDRL Reactive 1
TPPA Reactive
FTA-ABS Reactive

I'm a little confused as to what the non reactive means and why all the others are reactive and the Dr says I don't have active infection as it is last treated.
Thank you

Thank you Answering my Question Dr. There is so much Information on the internet that it actually makes one very anxious hence why i have subscribed to this service to get some straight answers.

The reason i had the STD's test in the first place was really for HIV as i had a needle stick mishap with a syringe on the 31st of XXXXXXX This Year. I'm a flight attendant and was on A plane I was pushing Rubbish Down in the lavatory bin with a small bottle wearing gloves and in doing so felt a minor pinch on my hand. at the time i didn't think anything of it until i arrived home. of which i started to panic. I did see a needle it was bent it did not get stuck to my hand it did not go very deep , obviously someone had injected themselves in the Lavatory for insulin or something else and threw the needle in bin. We have a plunger for this situation but in my tired haste 11 hr flight had been up for almost 20+hrs cut a corner and this is were i am.

I had a rapid HIV Test 48 hrs after incident it was Negative. Dr put me immediately on PEP medication i finish this coming Monday. I also had Blood tests for HIV, HEP A,B,C Chlamydia, Gonorrhea ,Syphilis all precautionary as i have not had any Tests for many many years. All negative except Syphilis. I had a second round of Tests a week after including HIV and ALL Negative except the Syphilis. so Dr Treated me.

I have a one month HIV test on Monday. Dr said the tests he did are 4th Generation and are accurate 98% 2 weeks after exposure and that the risk is very low to non existent for the scenario in my case.

So Back to the Syphilis I have been struggling mentally and emotionally from the idea of having tested reactive to syphilis. I realize that the bacteria is Mainly contracted by exposure to someone who is infected via Sexual contact. My Dr said that it is possible to be infected by using for example a straw to inhale drugs,and the person who was infected had either sores in their nose or mouth/lips then i proceed to use the same straw also inserting in nose or in my mouth of which i might of had sore in my nose or lips/mouth and potentially this was how i was exposed. i went through a period of Drug use. no needles.

Is this scenario even feasible. or could even the possibility exist that someone had contagious rash on a part of body other than genitals and i had open wound, i did have an open wound of 10cm by 2cm for a while from a severe infection.

The reason i ask is because i have not had sex with any one and my wife certainly wouldn't either(?). so could i entertain the idea that my Dr has put to me regarding straw or that i could have had this Bacteria decades ago as Dr said even from the first time i had sex. then had antibiotics which cured it. But still comes as positive after so many years but not contagious.

I know I'm dwelling on the idea of how i acquired the (Bacteria) in the past and should be happy that i have been detected and treated so should move forward. By me asking these Questions it is helping me to do this. You see i have not told my wife as yet as i wanted to make sure everything was negative and not worry her as she is under alot of stress at the moment i did not want to add to it as Dr my situation was very low risk for HIV. Im telling her today i don't her w to accuse me of anything either.

What i don't understand is if I'm not contagious or have had this Bacteria in the past . when in the past we cant tell. You mentioned THE RPR Test been non reactive if exposure within 2-3 months why i was given penicillin and antibiotics? is it just precautionary?. so this test would be REACTIVE if i had syphilis and not been treated in the past?

Please Excuse my long Question(s) So much was happening and my head has spinning with anxiety i have not slept until last night when you assured me i was not contagious and said this is past infection. Thank you very much i chose to write all my Questions at once rather than go back and forth. Thank you for your Time.

Thank You Dr.