HIV & Syphilis test

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI), that can cause serious and potentially life-threatening problems if left undiagnosed/untreated.

The infection is caused by Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum) bacteria, and develops in four stages:

• Stage 1: This is known as primary syphilis. The infection is contagious at this stage and symptoms include one or more painless, firm, round sores on the genitals and/or other parts of the body. These can occur anywhere from 10 days to three months after the bacteria has entered the body.
• Stage 2: Also known as secondary syphilis. The infection remains contagious at this stage and symptoms include genital, anal, or oral (mouth) sores resembling warts, a red or red-brown rash, fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, a sore throat, headaches, and fatigue.
• Stage 3: Latent syphilis can last for several years, during which the infection remains in the body, but the infected person does not display any symptoms. However, there is a risk of symptoms reoccurring, and treatment is still recommended to reduce this risk and the chances of passing the infection to other people.
• Stage 4: This is known as tertiary or late syphilis and can occur many years after the initial infection. Some people have been known to develop tertiary syphilis as many as 10-30 years after first exposure and, although not contagious at this stage, symptoms can be much more severe and even life-threatening, causing damage to vital organs and systems including the heart and liver, as well as bones, blood vessels and joints.

If you are sexually active, regular syphilis testing can help give you peace of mind, or ensure the infection is detected early, so that you can seek the appropriate treatment.

When caught early, syphilis can be easily treated with antibiotics. If the infection develops to a later stage, it can still be treated with antibiotics, but treatment can take much longer.

For more information on symptoms and complications see ‘What are the symptoms of HIV and syphilis?’

There are lots of instances when you should consider taking a HIV & Syphilis test both for your own peace of mind, and for the wellbeing of your partner(s).

Examples include:

• You are experiencing symptoms e.g. headache, fever, muscle aches and/or joint pain, rash, sore throat, diarrhoea, unexplained weight loss, small sores, ulcers and/or wart-like growths (on your genitals and/or other parts of your body)
• You engage in unprotected sex (or have engaged in unprotected sex in the past)
• You and/or your partner(s) have multiple sexual partners
• You and/or your partner(s) engage in drug use before/during sex
• You’ve met someone new and want to be sure you’re both healthy before beginning a physical relationship
• You are HIV positive, are currently being treated with antiretroviral treatment, and want to assess your viral load

Whatever your situation, a HIV & Syphilis test can help put your mind at rest or enable you to seek the correct medical treatment for the infection.

If you’ve decided to take a HIV & Syphilis test, we would advise that your current partner and any other partners with whom you’ve had a sexual relationship in the past six months be tested as well.

This can help ensure your partner is able to seek treatment if they are found to have a detectable HIV and/or syphilis infection. It can also help prevent the spread of infections to other people.

Our HIV & Syphilis test requires a finger prick blood sample to be collected using a small finger prick lancet device.

For more information on symptoms and complications see ‘What are the symptoms of HIV and syphilis?’

How often you get tested and which STIs (previously called STDs) you are tested for can depend on your age, gender, risk factors, and how sexually active you are.

If you’re a man who’s sexually active…

It is recommended that you get an STI test annually. However, you may want to consider having a test every three- to- six- months if you are having regular unprotected sex with new or casual partners. 

If you’re a woman who’s sexually active…

• It is recommended that you get an STI test annually. However, you may want to consider having a test every three- to- six- months if you are having regular unprotected sex with new or casual partners. 
• If you are pregnant, it is recommended that you get tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and syphilis. Women who are high risk may also consider being tested for chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

AlphaBiolabs offers a range of STI tests to help you keep your sexual health in check, including:

• Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea test
• 7-panel STI test
• HIV test
• Herpes test
• Syphilis test
• Herpes & Syphilis test
• HIV & Syphilis test
• Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C & HIV test

If you are having regular unprotected sex – especially if you and/or your partner have multiple sexual partners – it is recommended that you have a comprehensive sexual health test at least once a year.

This should include a multi-panel test such as our 7-panel STI test, which tests for some of the most common STIs in the UK, and at least one blood test, such as our:

• Syphilis test 
• HIV test
• HIV & Syphilis
• Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C & HIV test

For more information on symptoms and complications see ‘What are the symptoms of HIV and syphilis?’

We recommend that you take a HIV & Syphilis test no sooner than four weeks after potential exposure to an infection.

If you collect your sample too soon, the results of your test may not be as accurate. This is because each STI/STD has a different window period – the amount of time it takes from when you are first infected to when an infection can be detected in a blood sample.

The window period for HIV is 1-3 months (4-12 weeks). This is because after an infection, it takes time for the HIV antibodies and antigens to show up in a blood test.

The window period for syphilis is generally > 14 days (2 weeks) but it can take up to 12 weeks for syphilis antibodies to show up in a blood test.

It is recommended that if you take a test during the window period for these infections, you should also take another test after the window periods have ended (after 12 weeks) to be sure you are clear of any infections.

You can take a HIV & Syphilis test whether you are symptomatic (experiencing symptoms) or asymptomatic (not experiencing symptoms).

If you have symptoms, we recommend that you test immediately. If you have no symptoms, you should take the test four weeks after potential exposure to an infection.

IMPORTANT: If you believe you have been exposed to HIV within the past 72 hours, you should seek PEP medication from your local sexual health clinic before ordering a HIV test.

If you are experiencing symptoms of syphilis e.g. small sores, ulcers and/or wart-like growths (on your genitals and/or other parts of your body), you can order a Herpes & Syphilis test. Please note, the Herpes & Syphilis test is only suitable for people who have symptoms and requires a swab sample to be collected from an active lesion, sore or ulcer.

General guidance

If you are sexually active, a comprehensive sexual health check is recommended once a year, and should include a multi-panel test such as our 7-panel STI test, which tests for some of the most common STIs in the UK, and at least one blood test, such as our:

• Syphilis test 
• HIV test
• HIV & Syphilis
• Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C & HIV test

If you are in a high-risk category and/or engage in frequent sexual activity with multiple partners, you may want to consider having a comprehensive sexual health check every 3-6 months.

For further advice and guidance, visit https://www.sexwise.org.uk/

Our HIV & Syphilis test is 100% accurate and reliable based on the samples we receive at our laboratory.

Our UKAS-accredited laboratory works to strict, government enforced protocols to ensure your results are as accurate as possible.

Unlike many other online STI testing providers, our range of STI/STD tests has been developed in accordance with stringent guidelines as set by the British Association for Sexual Health & HIV (BASHH), Faculty of Sexual Reproductive Health (FSHR) and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

If you have any concerns about the reliability of your results, we would be happy to talk to you and answer any questions you might have.

For further guidance, we recommend making an appointment with your GP or visiting your nearest sexual health clinic.

You can also learn more about STIs/STDs by visiting https://www.sexwise.org.uk/

Once you have ordered your test, we will dispatch your test kit and also send you an email with a link to register your test online.

Please follow this link to complete your registration form online, ensuring that all your personal details are correct before collecting your samples.

If you have not received the email by the time you receive your test kit, please contact us on 0333 600 1300 or email health@alphabiolabs.com for assistance.

IMPORTANT: You MUST register your test online before returning your samples to our laboratory.

We will not be able to start the testing process until you have registered your test.

Our HIV & Syphilis test requires a blood sample to be collected using a small, finger prick lancet device.

When you receive your sample collection kit, simply follow the enclosed instructions to collect your blood sample.

Once you have collected your blood sample, carefully package the sample in the protective packaging, place it into the pre-paid tracked return polythene envelope and return it to our UK laboratory.

If you would like confidential advice on how to collect your blood sample, please contact our Customer Services team who will be able to assist you (call 0333 600 1300 or email health@alphabiolabs.com)

Your finger prick blood sample will be used to perform two different tests, one for each of the infections included in the cost of your test (HIV and syphilis).

Each test looks for the presence of antibodies and antigens in the blood sample, that are specific to each infection.

Antibodies are made by the body’s immune system to help us fight off viruses after we become infected, while antigens are the parts of the virus that trigger an immune response.

Your HIV test result will tell you whether you have HIV-1 and HIV-2 markers, as well as the p24 early detection marker.

Your syphilis test result will tell you whether syphilis antibodies were present in your blood sample at the time it was collected.

For further advice and guidance, visit https://www.sexwise.org.uk/

Many people with STI infections will not experience any symptoms at all, meaning that regular STI testing is important.

Below is an overview of some of the most common HIV and syphilis symptoms for men and women, along with possible complications if left untreated.

Your finger prick blood sample will be used to perform two different tests, one for each of the infections included in the cost of your test (HIV and syphilis).

Each test looks for the presence of antibodies and antigens in the blood sample, that are specific to each infection.

Antibodies are made by the body’s immune system to help us fight off viruses after we become infected, while antigens are the parts of the virus that trigger an immune response.

Your HIV test result will tell you whether you have HIV-1 and HIV-2 markers, as well as the p24 early detection marker.

Your syphilis test result will tell you whether syphilis antibodies were present in your blood sample at the time it was collected.

If you receive a Reactive result for HIV and/or syphilis, this means HIV and/or syphilis antibodies or antigens were present in your sample at the time of collection.

If you receive a Reactive result for HIV and/or syphilis, you MUST contact your GP or local healthcare provider to seek confirmatory testing as soon as possible.

If you receive a Non-reactive result for HIV and/or syphilis, this means that HIV and/or syphilis antibodies or antigens were NOT present in your sample at the time of collection.

If you receive a Non-reactive result but believe you have been exposed to HIV and/or syphilis, you should take another test after 12 weeks (from when you believe you were first exposed to an infection).

Yes, you can take a HIV & Syphilis test whether you are symptomatic (experiencing symptoms) or asymptomatic (not experiencing symptoms).

If you do not have symptoms and think you may have been exposed to HIV and/or syphilis, we recommend taking an STI test no earlier than four weeks after potential exposure to an infection.

If you collect your sample too soon, the results of your test may not be as accurate. This is because each STI/STD has a different window period – the amount of time it takes from when you are first infected to when an infection can be detected in a blood sample.

The window period for HIV is 1-3 months (4-12 weeks). This is because after an infection, it takes time for the HIV antibodies and antigens to show up in a blood test.

The window period for syphilis is generally > 14 days (2 weeks) but it can take up to 12 weeks for syphilis antibodies to show up in a blood test.

It is recommended that if you take a test during the window period for these infections, you should also take another test after the window periods have ended (after 12 weeks) to be sure you are clear of any infections.

If you have symptoms, we recommend that you test immediately. If you have no symptoms, you should take the test four weeks after potential exposure to an infection.

Other AlphaBiolabs tests that you can take even if you do not have symptoms include our Herpes & Syphilis test, 7-panel STI test, Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea test, Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C & HIV test, HIV test and Syphilis test.

You can order one of these tests here.

Full confidentiality is maintained throughout the testing process and when providing you with your results.

In the interests of public health and safety, AlphaBiolabs is required to report certain ‘clinically significant’ core organisms to Public Health England if they are detected within your sample

However, this does not include HIV and syphilis.

Organisms that we are required to report to Public Health England include chlamydia trachomatis, mycoplasma hominis, mycoplasma genitalium, neisseria gonorrhoea and trichomonas vaginalis.

Reports made to Public Health England include the individual’s full name, date of birth, gender, ethnicity, and postcode.

Yes, you can take a HIV & Syphilis test or any other STI/STD test when you’re pregnant.

If you are expecting a baby and are experiencing symptoms that could indicate you have an STI, it’s especially important to get a test before the baby is born, as treatment during pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of passing an infection onto your baby.

Certain STIs/STDs, including HIV and syphilis, can be passed to the baby during pregnancy or during delivery.

You can still collect your blood sample while you are pregnant, and your test result will be just as conclusive as if you weren’t pregnant.

You partner does not have to take a HIV & Syphilis test just because you have decided to take one.

However, if you receive a Reactive result (indicating that a HIV and/or syphilis infection has been detected), you MUST let your sexual partner(s) know so that they can also arrange to be tested. 

We strongly advise that you get an STI test if an infection has been detected in your partner’s sample.

If you have received a Reactive result for any of the pathogens included in this test (HIV and syphilis), you MUST contact your GP or local sexual health clinic for confirmatory testing, further guidance and treatment options as soon as possible. 

Confirmatory testing is essential for anyone who receives a Reactive result in order to provide a diagnosis and determine whether you have a current or past infection. Although extremely rare, it is possible to receive a false positive result for this test.

You should also abstain from sexual contact, to avoid passing the infection(s) on to other people and contact any sexual partners as soon as possible to inform them of the result.