RPR

Rapid Plasma Reagin Screen

What's

RPR

The Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) Screen is a blood test mainly used to check for syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection caused by the Treponema pallidum bacteria. This test detects antibodies, which are the body's way of fighting infections, that are produced in response to syphilis. The test is called "rapid" because it gives results quickly, and "reagin" refers to the substance it looks for. The term "screen" shows that it's used as an initial test to see if the infection is present. It's important to know that while the RPR Screen is helpful, it doesn't directly test for the bacteria causing syphilis, but instead checks for the body's reaction to it.

If Your Levels Are High

Elevated RPR levels might mean that your body is producing more antibodies than usual, possibly due to an infection like syphilis, which is caused by the Treponema pallidum bacteria. Other factors, such as certain medications or health conditions that boost your immune system, could also cause higher RPR levels. Additionally, recent vaccinations or other infections might affect the test results, as the RPR test is sensitive to changes in your immune system.

Symptoms of High Levels

Symptoms of high levels of RPR could include sores or rashes, particularly in the genital area, fatigue, fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. In some cases, there may be no noticeable symptoms.

If Your Levels are Low

A low RPR result might mean that your body hasn't produced enough detectable antibodies to fight the syphilis-causing bacteria, Treponema pallidum. This could happen if you've been recently exposed to the bacteria and your immune system hasn't had time to respond yet, or if your immune system isn't reacting as it should. Some medications, like corticosteroids or immunosuppressants, or health conditions, such as HIV, could affect your immune response and lead to lower RPR levels. It's also possible that you haven't been exposed to the bacteria at all.

Symptoms of Low Levels

Symptoms of low levels of RPR are typically non-existent, as this test measures the immune response rather than the presence of symptoms.

See References