Syphilis often has few (or no) symptoms — getting screened can help prevent serious, long-term health problems. (Getty Images)
After years of alarming increases in rates of syphilis and congenital syphilis in the U.S., with cases jumping by 80% between 2018 and 2022, there's some good news on the syphilis front: As of 2023, rates of primary and secondary syphilis have declined for the first time in more than two decades, down 10% overall, with rates of all syphilis increasing by just 1% — significantly less than in previous years. Congenital syphilis — when a mother passes syphilis to her baby during pregnancy — has also slowed, with just a 3% increase from 2022 to 2023 — significantly less than the 30% increases seen in prior year-over-year data.
But just because rates of syphilis are falling doesn't mean you should take a breather from monitoring your sexual health. Syphilis often goes undetected, with mild or even nonexistent symptoms. That's why registered nurse Lauren Thayer says "it's important to get tested if you suspect you may have an infection." Plus, syphilis doesn't discriminate when it comes to age. The highest number of new cases is reported in people between the ages of 20 and 34, but Dr. Alyssa Dweck, chief medical officer at Bonafide Health, says she's seen a surge of cases among perimenopausal and menopausal women. "Many women are engaging with new partners due to divorce or being widowed," she says, noting that since pregnancy is less of a concern in this demographic, they may forgo the use of condoms, increasing the risk of transmission.
If going to your doctor or a clinic to discuss concerns about possible exposure to a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or sexually transmitted infection (STI) is uncomfortable, one good (and private) way to screen yourself is with an at-home syphilis test. "Remote testing is great," says Barbara Van Der Pol, director of the UAB STD Diagnostics Laboratory, but she emphasizes that it's important to do your research. "There are some bad actors preying on consumers."
To help you find the best at-home syphilis test for your needs, our team consulted with a panel of sexual health doctors and medical experts to better understand what to look for and what to avoid. We considered 15 tests from reputable companies and rated each based on ease of use, accuracy, whether the test was fully in-home or required a trip to the lab, price and whether medical consultations with treatment plans were available. Here, we've highlighted our top four options for a range of needs, but if you're interested in testing for additional sexually transmitted infections, consider our picks for best at-home STD tests and best at-home herpes tests.
Update, June 26, 2025: We checked all product prices and availability. Our No. 1 pick for the best at-home syphilis test remains unchanged.
Tests for: Syphilis | Time until results: 3-5 days after lab receipt | Test collection method: Finger prick | Doctor consultation available: Yes, for positive results | Accepts insurance: No | FSA/HSA eligible: Yes
Everlywell — featured on Shark Tank in 2017 — has become a dominant force in the at-home-test market. The company offers affordable and accessible laboratory testing for various areas of health and wellness, including cardiovascular, endocrine, immune and sexual health. In fact, there are 10 STI and STD tests available, ranging from a full-panel STD test ($253) that screens for a combination of chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, HIV and trichomoniasis to at-home tests designed to screen for only one STD or STI, such as syphilis, HIV or hepatitis C.
Everlywell's syphilis test is a treponemal test, which means it detects antibodies to Treponema pallidum, the bacterium that causes syphilis. Since these antibodies are produced only in response to a syphilis infection, this type of test — also known as a confirmatory test — is extremely reliable. It's also incredibly convenient. Everlywell tests come with clear instructions — written and video tutorials — and extra lancets in case you need them. Once the test arrives, you collect a small sample of blood with the enclosed lancet and vial, and mail the sample to a lab using the prepaid shipping materials included with the test kit. The sample is analyzed at a CLIA-certified lab, and within three to five days of lab receipt, your test results will be delivered electronically via a private portal. If your results are positive, there's a free physician consultation included with the purchase of the test to discuss next steps and treatment plans.
Tests for: Syphilis, HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea | Time until results: 7 business days after lab receipt | Test collection method: Finger prick and urine sample | Doctor consultation available: Yes | Accepts insurance: Yes | FSA/HSA eligible: Yes
In general, the majority of at-home-test companies do not accept insurance. Nurx is the exception. While the sign-up process is easy, prior to ordering your test you must have a medical consultation with a Nurx provider — a $30 out-of-pocket expense. However, this fee also includes a year of unlimited messaging with the medical team about your test or results.
After you order the test, the kit arrives in a discreet package with everything you need for sample collection and mailing to Nurx's CLIA-certified lab. Once the sample is received, a medical provider will contact you within seven business days to review your results and prescribe medication if needed. It's really that simple!
There are three STD tests available that screen for syphilis in addition to other STIs, all of which may be free with insurance coverage:
Basics Covered Kit — As low as $0 with insurance; $150 without insurance — screens for syphilis, HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Healthy V Kit — As low as $0 with insurance; $190 out of pocket — screens for syphilis, throat chlamydia, throat gonorrhea, HIV and trichomoniasis.
Full Control Kit — As low as $0 with insurance; $220 out of pocket — screens for syphilis; HIV; genital, throat and rectal chlamydia; genital, throat and rectal gonorrhea; and hepatitis C.
Tests for: Syphilis | Time until results: 1-2 days | Test collection method: Blood sample | Doctor consultation available: Yes, for positive results | Accepts insurance: No | FSA/HSA eligible: Yes
Unlike the other options on our list, with STDcheck.com, sample collection isn't done at home but rather in person at an affiliated local lab. After ordering your test online, you'll schedule an appointment to visit one of the 4,500 testing centers available nationwide. There, a professional collects the sample for you. While it's not quite as convenient as at-home-collection test kits, this may be a better option if you're uncomfortable drawing the blood sample or are concerned about making a mistake.
The real benefit comes with turnaround time. Results are ready in just one to two days since you don't have to consider mailing or processing delays. Even better, if you can find a lab in your area offering same-day appointments, you may be able to get your results in 24 hours.
If the test results are positive, you can schedule a free virtual doctor consultation to discuss your treatment options.
STDcheck.com offers an individual syphilis test ($49) and a 10-panel test that screens for syphilis along with HIV (types 1 and 2), herpes (types 1 and 2), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, chlamydia and gonorrhea ($139).
Tests for: Syphilis | Time until results: 1-3 days | Test collection method: Blood sample | Doctor consultation available: Yes, $95 fee for positive results | Accepts insurance: No | FSA/HSA eligible: Yes
HealthLabs.com offers an extensive list of at-home and in-lab tests, with the majority being budget-friendly with fast, accurate options — all the things you want in an STI test for syphilis. The syphilis test is a rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test that searches for antibodies found in cells damaged by the syphilis infection.
You start by ordering your test online, then you make an appointment at one of the affiliated labs for a day and time that's convenient for you — you may even be able to make a same-day appointment. If your test is positive, you can pay an additional $95 for a virtual doctor consultation to discuss and obtain treatment.
Something we really like about HealthLabs.com is that it offers a 110% price guarantee. If you find a test from another company at a lower price, HealthLabs will match it and give you an additional 10% discount. You can also use your FSA or HSA funds to pay for the test.
When buying an at-home syphilis test, there are several important factors to take into account.
Lab validation: Make sure that the test is analyzed by a reputable lab — one that's CLIA-certified and/or CAP-accredited. These third-party organizations ensure that labs follow the proper protocols and safety standards for testing.
STI tests offered: Some companies offer individual syphilis tests, while others only offer STD panels that test for multiple STDs and STIs including syphilis. If you're unsure whether you've been exposed to more than just syphilis, it's likely in your best interest to spring for a full-panel test to cover all the bases.
Collection method: Some test kits allow you to collect a sample at home, while others require an in-person visit to a testing center. Make sure you choose the option you are most comfortable with.
Time for results: Test results take anywhere from one day to a full week. If you plan to get tested regularly, you might not mind waiting a little longer, but in some cases, you might want to know as soon as possible. Make sure you understand how the results will be delivered — email, phone call, private portal or app — and in what time frame.
Cost: Depending on the company and STIs being tested for, at-home tests can cost between $50 and $250. It's also important to note that some companies offer subscription options, accept insurance or allow FSA/HSA payments, all of which can lower the price.
Follow-up care: Many at-home testing companies offer doctor consultations for positive results, along with options for obtaining treatment and prescriptions. These services are sometimes free with the test, but there may be an additional fee, so make sure you're aware of any extra fees associated with medical consultations and treatment plans.
To find the best at-home syphilis tests on the market, our team first consulted four sexual health doctors and experts to learn what to look for in an STD test. We then looked at 15 tests and compared each based on a variety of factors including whether each test screened only for syphilis or was grouped in with a broader STD or STI panel; if CLIA-certified or CAP-accredited labs processed the results; accuracy; ease of ordering; collection method; time for results; follow-up support and cost.
According to Thayer, syphilis often goes unnoticed. Some symptoms are mild or even nonexistent, which is why it’s important to get tested if you suspect you may have an infection.
The most common initial symptom, though, is a small sore, called a chancre, on the genitals, rectum or mouth. Chancres are usually firm, round and painless.
"Because it's painless, people may not notice it or think it's a problem," says Dr. Yudara Kularathne, a consultant physician. However, he stresses that if it's not treated, it will progress and lead to more serious health problems. Some symptoms that may develop after the initial stage (after the chancre) include a rash on the palms and soles of the feet, fever, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, weight loss and patchy hair loss.
While medical intervention is needed, syphilis is easy to treat as long as it's caught early. The antibiotic penicillin is the most common form of treatment for early intervention. When not caught early, there can be additional complications caused by the syphilis infection that will require a more intensive treatment plan. "Late-stage symptoms can also cause tumors, blindness and/or paralysis," says Thayer. "It can damage your brain, nervous system and other organs."
Yes, syphilis can have a serious impact on women who are pregnant. "Untreated syphilis can be passed to the baby in the womb, leading to a condition called congenital syphilis," says Kularathne. Congenital syphilis can cause a host of health issues for the baby — including developmental delays, deformities, seizures, blindness, deafness and jaundice — and there is also an increased risk of stillbirth or miscarriage.
Although it can be detected sooner, syphilis can take up to 12 weeks to show up on a blood test, says Thayer. However, after a chancre appears, the bacteria can be detected in one to two weeks.
Syphilis tests that use reliable, accredited labs for analysis are generally very accurate. The biggest factor is how the sample is collected, so if you use a self-collected test kit, it's important to make sure you follow the directions carefully.
False positives and false negatives do occur, though, says Dweck, so she recommends confirmatory testing, particularly before treatment.
At-home syphilis tests include a sample blood draw that is either done by you in the privacy of your home using materials included with your test kit, or done by scheduling an appointment with an affiliated lab that works directly with the company you purchased the test from.
It's actually very simple and follows the same testing practices used in a doctor's office. In fact, if you opt for an in-person local lab sample draw, it's possible that it will be the same lab your doctor uses, as many of the labs affiliated with at-home testing companies are with the two largest lab companies in the United States: Quest Diagnostics and Labcorp. The only real difference is the type of test — a confirmatory test, an RPR test or a venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test — all of which deliver highly accurate results.
Dr. Alyssa Dweck, chief medical officer at Bonafide Health
Barbara Van Der Pol, professor of medicine and public health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and director of the UAB STD Diagnostics Laboratory
Lauren Thayer, registered nurse and health care writer at Healthcanal
Dr. Yudara Kularathne, consultant physician and cofounder of HeHealth
Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.
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