Tests performed elsewhere, or prior to the civil surgeon's examination of the applicant, are not acceptable.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema Palliudm
- All applicants aged 18-44 years must be tested for evidence of syphilis.
- Applicants aged less than 18 years or greater than 44 years must be tested if there is reason to suspect infection with syphilis.
False-positive nontreponemal test results can be associated with multiple medical conditions and factors unrelated to syphilis, including other infections (e.g., HIV,
tuberculosis, hepatitis, malaria), autoimmune conditions (e.g., systemic lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), vaccinations (e.g., smallpox, MMR) injection drug use, pregnancy,
and older age.
Treponemal tests might be positive (or reactive) with serum from patients with other infectious and noninfectious diseases, conditions, YAWS (T. pallidum subspecies
pertenue), Pinta (/t. carateum), Bejel (T. pallidum subspecies endemicum) or other treponemal diseases.
Civil Surgeons must treat syphilis according to CDC's STI Treatment Guidelines which are periodically updated before the medical report is completed and signed. Benzathine penicillin G (BPG) is the preferred treatment regimen for syphilis.