How To Use a Rapid Syphilis Home Test

For any sexually active person, taking a syphilis test is necessary to truly take control of your health. After all, syphilis is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the United States. Luckily, myLAB Box offers at home testing options that allow you to easily test for this STI from the comfort of your home.

Testing Options

When screening for syphilis, you have several home testing options. For one, you can test for only this individual infection. This is a good choice for those who know that they were specifically exposed to this infection.

However, if you are already testing for syphilis, why not screen for multiple infections at once?  You can do this with a single sample set if you use one of several combination test kit options.

Uber Box: This 8-panel kit tests for: HIV (I & II), Hepatitis C, HSV-2, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Trichomoniasis. Even better, the Love Box includes two Uber Box test kits so that couples can test together.

Total Box: This is the most comprehensive at-home test on the market. myLAB Box’s 14-panel test screens for the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. These include: HIV (I & II), Hepatitis C, HSV-2, Syphilis, Chlamydia (genital, throat and rectal), Gonorrhea (genital, throat and rectal), Trichomoniasis, Mycoplasma genitalium. Women who are 30 years of age or older can add an HPV option. You can also add an optional HPV test.

If Results are Positive

Luckily, there is a cure for syphilis. The common infection is treatable with antibiotics. If you get positive results with myLAB Box’s home test, you will have a phone consultation with a local physician.  In most cases, this physician can prescribe your treatment.

Using a Home Syphilis Test

Taking a home syphilis test is even easier than it may seem. The process is designed to be timesaving yet accurate. Here’s how it works:

Order a testing kit online. It is best to take a syphilis test approximately three to six weeks after potential exposure to the infection. Your test kit will arrive in discreet packaging, so no one needs to know your business. You even get free shipping!

Collect a sample using the easy-to-follow instructions. This only takes five minutes to complete. For a syphilis test , you will need to provide a small sample of blood.  Don’t worry! All that is required is a small prick of the finger.  Send your sample back to the lab for testing: simply put your sample into the pre-paid return envelope that is included with your test kit.

Receive your lab-certified results online in just days. You will get an email when your results are ready. All you have to do is log into the secure user portal to find your results.

Recognizing Syphilis

One way to identify whether you have syphilis is to recognize the symptoms that are associated with it. That said, this infection may not ever show signs of being present in your body. The only way to truly know for sure is by being tested.  Still, it is helpful to be aware of some of these signs that may prompt you to test if you haven’t already done so. The signs and symptoms of syphilis are broken down by several stages. These signs include:

Early “Primary” Stage: During this initial stage, you may notice small painless sores that resemble acne or an ingrown hair. Though this stage typically lasts for three-to-six weeks, the infection will remain inside your body unless you are treated.

Secondary Stage: At this stage, you may develop a rash, fever, swollen lymph glands and a sore throat. Additional signs may include hair loss, headaches, weight loss and a feeling of fatigue.

Latent Syphilis: This next phase could possibly last several years. Though you may not notice any visible symptoms, the infection is actually getting stronger.

Tertiary Syphilis: This stage can occur anytime between 10 and 30 years after the initial contraction of the infection.  Syphilis, in its most severe stage, includes loss of muscle control, numbness, paralysis, blindness and dementia.

Luckily, syphilis never needs to get to this point. As we mentioned above, it is curable. The trick is to make sure that you are tested in the first place. This way, if you have the infection, you can get diagnosed and treated right away.