Firstly thank you in advance for reading and replying.

I have been with current girlfriend for a year, and we decided to look into longer term contraception rather than condoms. It was recommended that she had an STD blood test which she did. All OK except Syphilis. The health adviser said looking at the results it is likely to be false positive, but will need to run another test to be sure. She has now given further blood and was told the results would be back in a week.

I heard from girlfriend today that the clinic called her to say that the results would actually be another 2 weeks, i.e 3 weeks in total from when the blood was taken, as the second set of tests take longer.

Weirdly the reults if they had only taken a week, would have arrived before our 2 week holiday, and now they are not available until after the 2 week holiday.

While I totally trust her, this has made me curious, and I wonder whether she has had the results, and she is positive, and doesn't want to potentially rock the boat prior to a holiday!

Plus the fact she may have some explaining to do re. another partner while I have been with her!!

Therfore does anyone know how long these secondary tests take? I think they are Treponemal tests. Living in the UK I cannot imagine they take 3 weeks?- can they?

Again, thank you for any replies

I do not know how long the tests take in the UK as I am in the US. But I can tell you that syphillis can live in the body for years untreated. If it is positive, she very could have gotten it years ago, rather than since you have been with her.

Syphillis does not always cause symptoms, this could be why she wasn't treated in the past.