Rapid Plasma Reagin Titer RPR TITER
Also Known As: RPR Test, Syphilis Test, Rapid Plasma Regain Test, RPR Titer Reflex, Treponema Palladium With Reflex To Titer
What Is A RPR (Monitor) With Reflex To Titer Test?
An RPR (Monitor) With Reflex To Titer test is one of the many tests that doctors perform to screen and diagnose sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis. The procedure includes a simple blood test to check for syphilis antibodies in the blood serum. Combined with other methods like specific antibody testing, this test can help the doctor detect the presence of active infection and to plan out an efficient treatment plan.
Syphilis is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world. It is classified as a bacterial infection that spreads in the body through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected person. This medical condition develops in different stages that can last in your body for weeks, months, and even several years. These developmental stages may be detached by extended periods of deceptive good health but may show symptoms afterward. This sexually transmitted disease usually begins with a small, painless sore called chancre on your genitals, mouth, or anus. The next stage gives you specific flu-like symptoms and a rash. The signs and symptoms get more intense with time and can easily damage your heart, brain, spinal cord, and several other organs.
The RPR (Monitor) With Reflex To Titer test can help your doctor or practitioner diagnose syphilis in its early periods when the infection is easy to treat.
What Is The Test Used For?
Your doctor can order this test for a wide range of reasons. Since it is one of the quickest ways to screen people with a high risk of getting syphilis, you can also undergo the RPR (Monitor) With Reflex To Titer test if you have developed syphilis like rash or sores. If you are pregnant, your doctor or healthcare provider can also routinely recommend this test for syphilis. Many states also require couples to undergo the test before getting married or applying for the marriage certificate.
The lab technicians look for antibodies found in individuals with syphilis during the test instead of the bacteria causing the infection. If you already have syphilis, the doctor can also order the test during routine checkups to ensure that the treatment plan is working efficiently. After the course of active antibiotic therapy, the number of antibodies should drop to indicate the success of the treatment regime.
Why And When Do You Need An RPR (Monitor) With Reflex To Titer Test?
Your doctor or health care professional may ask you to undergo an RPR (Monitor) With Reflex to Titer test if your sexual partner has been diagnosed with syphilis and if you are also showing the signs and symptoms of the infection. The symptoms usually appear after 2 to 3 weeks of infection and include:
- Headache
- High fever
- Small painless sores called chancre on the genitals, mouth, or anus
- Rough, red rash that usually appears on the palms of the hands or bottom of the feet
- Hair loss
- Sudden weight loss
- Swollen glands
- Extreme fatigue
Even when asymptomatic, you might need to take this test if you are at a higher risk of catching the infection. The risk factors of syphilis include the following:
- A partner with multiple sex partners
- Multiple sex partners
- Frequent unprotected sex
- A proceeding HIV or AIDS infection
- Another sexually transmitted disease like gonorrhea
If you are pregnant, your doctor or gynecologist will recommend the test for syphilis as this infection can easily pass from a mother to her newborn baby. It can cause some serious and deadly complications to infants, so it is recommended that all pregnant ladies must get tested during the early trimester to prevent any unfortunate circumstances.
What Kind Of Sample Is Required For The Test?
Your doctor will perform the RPR (monitor) with a reflex to titer test in the form of a blood test.
During the procedure lab technician or a health care professional takes a blood sample from a vein in your arm through a small needle. They will collect the suggested amount of blood in a test tube or vial, and you may feel a little sting when the needle goes in and out of the vein. The overall procedure is very easy and only takes about 5 minutes or less.
Do You Need To Prepare For The Test?
You don't need to do any special preparations before the supplies test. If your doctor has suggested some other test along with RPR (monitor) with reflex to titer test, they may ask you to fast ( stop eating and drinking) for at least 8 to 10 hours. If you are taking certain medications, vitamins, and supplements, it is wise to let your doctor know about them and their possible effects on the test results.
Are There Any Risks To This Test?
Vein puncture is less invasive and carries almost little to no risks. In rare conditions, people might complain about bleeding, soreness, and bruising at the injection site, but a simple ice pack application to the puncture wound can help relieve the symptoms.
What Do The Test Results Mean?
A normal or negative test result is acceptable by the doctors. However, it is important to understand that your body will not always produce antibodies, especially in response to the syphilis bacteria, which means that the test results are not always accurate. There will always be a chance of false-negative in people with early and late-stage syphilis. More vigorous testing may be required to rule out the condition in such circumstances.
On the other hand, a positive test result indicates that you have syphilis. If your screening test is positive, the next step would be to confirm the diagnosis from a professional doctor. He may ask you to undergo other specific tests for syphilis like FTA-ABS to help distinguish between the syphilis bacteria and other infections or medical conditions.
How well the RPR (monitor) the test detects syphilis will depend on the stage of the infection. This test is more sensitive during the middle stages and is less sensitive during the early or late stages of the infection. Some other conditions can also lead to a false positive test like:
- Lyme disease
- IV drug use
- Malaria
- Different types of pneumonia
- Systemic lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune conditions
- Pregnancy
- Tuberculosis or TB
Related Tests: Gonorrhea test, CSF or cerebrospinal fluid test, HIV screening test, Herpes or HSV test, chlamydia test.
Frequently ordered together
HIV Antibody 1 & 2
RPR VDRL Syphilis Screen
Herpes Simplex Virus HSV 1-2 with Reflex
Herpes Simplex Virus HSV Type 1 and 2 PCR
Gonorrhea Culture With Reflex
HIV 1-2 Antigen and Antibodies Fourth Generation with Reflexes
Safe Box (Male)
Safe Box (Female)
Love Box (Male-Female)
Love Box (Male-Male)
Love Box (Female-Female)
Chlamydia-Gonorrhea
Syphilis
Syphilis Antibody Cascading Reflex
49.00$
16.00$
70.00$
96.00$
47.00$
34.00$
180.00$
180.00$
474.00$
474.00$
474.00$
75.00$
75.00$
23.00$
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Conditions Treated
Sarwat Makkani, MD
