Understanding Syphilis Test Results: What Do Positive & Negative Mean?

It's generally not possible to receive both positive and negative results on a syphilis test. Syphilis testing methods are designed to produce accurate outcomes and provide a clear indication of whether an individual is infected with the bacteria that causes syphilis. If a person's test result comes back positive, it means they have syphilis and require treatment. A negative result indicates they don't have syphilis at the time of testing.