[Question #11386] Syphilis test
14 months ago
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Hello doctor. Sorry for my bad English, it's not my native language. I had sex with a sex worker in central Europe in Hungary if that matters. Oral sex was unprotected, but sex with condom. After 1 week, my skin next to my scrotum ( groin area) turned red on both sides and also sweated on one side. The skin is cracked and sweated a little bit. The dermatologist said it was a fungal infection. He gave me an anti-fungal ointment. I was already worried about syphilis then. Exactly 6 weeks and 1 day (43 days) after sex, my RPR test and syphilis Igm/Igg test were negative. A few days after the test, I took antibiotics due to a dental problem, azithromycin 500mg once a day for three days. Then I read online that the syphilis test is reliable after 12 weeks. Now, exactly 5 months after the sex and 3 months after taking the last antibiotic, I repeated the test. RPR test negative Treponema Igg/Igm Clia test negative. Is it possible that this test is false negative because of the antibiotic even after all this time? Would you recommend retesting later? Or is it time for me to calm down?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
14 months ago
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14 months ago
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14 months ago
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
14 months ago
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14 months ago
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
14 months ago
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