Evaluation of a Rapid Syphilis Test in an Emergency Department Setting in Detroit, Michigan

Background Syphilis transmission can be prevented by prompt diagnosis and treatment of primary and secondary infection. We evaluated the performance of a point-of-care rapid syphilis treponemal (RST) test in an emergency department (ED) setting. Methods Between June 2015 and April 2016, men aged 18 to 34 years seeking services in a Detroit ED, and with no history of syphilis, were screened for syphilis with the RST test, rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test, and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay (TP-PA). A positive reference standard was both a reactive RPR and a reactive TP-PA. We compared test results in self-reported men who have sex with men (MSM) to non-MSM. Results Among 965 participants, 10.9% of RST tests were reactive in MSM and only 1.5% in non-MSM (P
Source: Sexually Transmitted Diseases - Category: Sexual Medicine Tags: Original Studies Source Type: research