A review of recent advances in rapid point-of-care tests for syphilis

Abstract

Syphilis is a curable disease, yet over 10 million people worldwide are infected with syphilis each year. Syphilis case finding and subsequent treatment are key steps in syphilis control and prevention efforts. The advent of rapid point-of-care tests – which require minimal equipment, are easy to perform and are relatively low cost – have the potential to improve syphilis control by allowing for more widespread testing in clinical and non-clinical settings. However, strategies to maximise the potential public health impact of those tests are needed, and those include regulatory oversight, effective supply-chain management and quality assurance systems.