What does TP positive and RPR negative mean?

TP positive and RPR negative indicates the presence of antibodies against *Treponema pallidum* in the body, but there is currently no active syphilis infection. This may be due to a past infection that has been successfully treated, or it could represent the very early stage of infection. If there has been high-risk behavior or accompanying skin and mucous membrane lesions, prompt medical evaluation is recommended for further testing and confirmation.

TP refers to the *Treponema pallidum* antibody test. A positive result indicates either a current or past infection with *Treponema pallidum*. Once produced, these antibodies typically remain positive for life and therefore cannot be used to determine active infection; they are primarily used for screening purposes.

RPR (Rapid Plasma Reagin) test, when negative, suggests no active replication of *Treponema pallidum* and indicates the absence of infectiousness. In individuals with a history of syphilis, a negative RPR usually means they have achieved clinical cure after treatment and do not require further antimicrobial therapy.

In daily life, it is important to maintain healthy sexual practices, avoid high-risk behaviors, practice good personal hygiene, refrain from sharing personal items, and undergo regular sexually transmitted infection screenings. If RPR later becomes positive or shows an increasing titer, timely management according to professional medical advice is essential.