Statement from Assistant Secretary for Health Levine on point-of-care testing for syphilis

June 14, 2024
HHS syphilis update.

Over the past decade, syphilis rates and case numbers in the U.S. have increased across all populations. In response to this surge in syphilis cases, HHS formed the National Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis Syndemic Federal Task Force led by HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine. 

This task force issued new considerations for healthcare providers who test patients for syphilis. The new HHS document “Considerations for the Implementation of Point of Care Tests for Syphilis - PDF,” outlines four main differences between syphilis point of care tests and laboratory-based serologic syphilis tests and highlights the best settings to consider use of point-of-care tests. It also examines parameters for point of care testing program implementation and management, provides answers to common questions, and lists links to related resources. 

Read the new resource “Considerations for the Implementation of Point of Care Tests for Syphilis - PDF and sign up for the Stopping Syphilis: The HHS Summer Seminar Series.