Amid Syphilis Rate Concerns In Alexandria, Rapid Tests Provided To Health Center

ALEXANDRIA, VA — After the Alexandria Health Department shared that Alexandria had higher rates of syphilis than the region and state, a public clinic is stepping in to help.

Neighborhood Health, a federally-qualified public health center, is one of 15 public health clinics nationwide chosen to receive free rapid syphilis test kits. The program is offered through Laboratory service Labcorp and diagnostic test developer NOWDiagnostics.

"Labcorp is committed to improving health and improving lives through innovative solutions that address critical public health challenges," said Dr. Brian Caveney, Labcorp's chief medical and scientific officer. "By teaming up with NOWDx and supporting frontline healthcare providers, we’re making it easier to get tested, get treated and help stop the spread of syphilis in local communities."

Labcorp, which is the exclusive commercial laboratory offering the First to Know Syphilis Test to healthcare providers, says the test provides accurate results in 15 minutes. Patients can also receive the test through Labcorp OnDemand.

The test identifies syphilis, a sexually transmitted bacterial infection spread through sexual contact without a condom. Pregnant women can also pass on congenital syphilis to their babies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that total U.S. syphilis cases increased by 1 percent in 2023, with more than 209,000 cases reported. According to Labcorp, many infected people are unaware they have syphilis due to asymptomatic infections. Early detection can help prevent serious symptoms without treatment like the infection spreading to the brain and nervous system, the eyes or ears.

In February, the Alexandria Health Department shared data from the Virginia Department of Health showing Alexandria's syphilis rate per 100,000 people above the Northern Virginia and statewide rates. The city's rate is trending down while the statewide average sees a slight uptick. Alexandria's gonorrhea and chlamydia rates are also above the regional and statewide averages, and the gonorrhea rate is trending up. New HIV and AIDS diagnoses are trending down in Alexandria and fell below the statewide average.

Neighborhood Health is a public health center providing primary care services to uninsured and underinsured people in need. It has clinics in the City of Alexandria, Arlington County and Fairfax County. Another regional health center receiving the free rapid tests is HealthWorks for Northern Virginia, which serves Reston, Herndon, Sterling and Leesburg.

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