Risks

Sore or skin sample

There is very little risk of complications from having a sample taken from an open sore (chancre), skin rash, or mucous membrane.

Blood sample

There is very little chance of a problem from having blood sample taken from a vein.

• You may get a small bruise at the site. You can lower the chance of bruising by keeping pressure on the site for several minutes.
• In rare cases, the vein may become swollen after the blood sample is taken. This problem is called phlebitis. A warm compress can be used several times a day to treat this.
• Ongoing bleeding can be a problem for people with bleeding disorders. Aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), and other blood-thinning medicines can make bleeding more likely. If you have bleeding or clotting problems, or if you take blood-thinning medicine, tell your doctor before your blood sample is taken.

Spinal fluid sample

There is little risk associated with having a lumbar puncture to obtain a spinal fluid sample for syphilis testing. For more information, see the medical test Lumbar Puncture.