Testing
- A health care provider can order syphilis testing for you. They will either collect a blood sample from you or send you to a lab. You can get tested through:
- Your family health care provider
- A walk-in/virtual clinic
- A provider you see at other health services like Nursing Stations or Addiction Treatment Centres
- The Sexual Health Clinic:
- In-person appointment at our North Bay or Parry Sound office
- Phone appointment with blood collected at a lab of your choice
- Register online with GetaKit.ca, complete a self-assessment, and a paper requisition will be mailed to your home. You take this to a local lab to have your blood drawn for syphilis testing.
Additional syphilis information for guys who are into guys can be found on our Men's Sexual Health page.
Screening and Testing Recommendations
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Screening for syphilis is recommended for all sexually active adolescents and adults. Individuals with multiple partners should have repeat screening every 3 to 6 months. An “opt-out” approach to testing has shown to be effective in certain settings as it limits the need for a detailed sexual health history and normalizes screening. This strategy can help mitigate under-screening, as some patients may not disclose their full sexual health history due to prior negative experiences in the health system or other concerns. Certain groups/communities with a higher prevalence of syphilis may benefit from an opt-out approach every 3 months. These include:
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Screening in pregnancy:
Given increased syphilis rates in the Health Unit region and elsewhere in the province, the Health Unit strongly recommends universal syphilis screening at three different points during pregnancy:
- During the first trimester or at the first prenatal visit;
- Repeat screening at 28 to 32 weeks; and
- At delivery.
Information on test ordering for syphilis can be found at Public Health Ontario - Syphilis Serology.
Treatment
The Health Unit has prepared a Management of Syphilis Infections document. This document provides recommendations for interpretation of syphilis results, treatment recommendations, and follow-up serology for syphilis.
Contact our Sexual Health Clinic with any questions, or to order free Penicillin G Benzathine-Long Acting (LA) or other STI medication.
Phone: 705-474-1400 ext. 5289 Email: clinic@healthunit.ca
Additional Information
- Position statement from Canadian Pediatric Society: Diagnosis and management of congenital syphilis – avoiding missed opportunities.
- Post-exposure prophylaxis with Doxycycline (doxyPEP) has shown to be an effective approach for syphilis prevention among certain populations. See more information at CATIE - DoxyPEP.
Cases:
12*
*Includes confirmed cases, infectious and non-infectious in 2023.
Incidence rate per 100,000 in 2023: 8.7
Incidence Rate per 100,000 of Syphilis by Year
Data Sources |
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