Fingers crossed: Doctors hope rapid test can help curb the spread of syphilis in Alberta

Doctors in Alberta are pinning their hopes on a new rapid test for syphilis that could be an important tool in stopping the spread of the sexually transmitted disease. A clinical trial for two rapid tests—one for syphilis and another for HIV—delivered results with 90% accuracy in less than 15 minutes. Of the 1,500 participants who were tested, about 500 people tested positive for syphilis, including 240 who represented new infections, according to a CBC News report. The trial participants were from two inner-city emergency departments, a correctional facility in Edmonton and a First Nations community in northern Alberta. The trial results were confirmed by laboratory tests. Rapid syphilis tests are new in Canada, although rapid HIV tests are not. Read: Pharmacy offers PrEP to IV drugs users to protect against HIV infections "We had anticipated that perhaps 10 per cent of our participants would test positive,” said Dr. Ameet Singh, an infectious disease specialist who led the 19-month trial. “So this was really incredible and really tells us that we were offering testing at locations that we were very likely to pick up persons at risk for syphilis.” Syphilis cases have surged in Canada over the last decade. In 2009 there were just 8.32 cases per 100,000 Canadians. By 2019 that number had risen to 30.96 cases per 100,000. In Alberta, the latest numbers from Alberta Health Services show 2,500 new infections reported in 2020. Just six years earlier, a mere 160 cases were reported. Close to 185 babies in the province have been born with congenital syphilis since 2016 and 39 of these infants have died. "If women are not tested during the pregnancy, and early on in the pregnancy, then we can't intervene with our treatments," said Dr. Singh. Read: LGBTQ stigma threatens to 'spread like a virus' in monkeypox response, say advocates She cited the growing popularity of dating apps—which make it easier to engage in casual sex with multiple partners—as well as increased drug use in recent years as reasons for the rise of syphilis cases in the Prairies. The rapid tests—and the companies that would manufacture the tests—still require Health Canada approval for wider use but the tests have received the nod for a second clinical trial in Saskatchewan. "I think this is going to be an incredible game changer for Canada." Read: Updated Canadian guidelines on sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections

Fingers crossed: Doctors hope rapid test can help curb the spread of syphilis in Alberta

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