Offering Routine and Rapid Point of Care Syphilis Testing in Pregnant Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to improve syphilis screening and treatment in pregnant patients who come to the emergency department or obstetrical triage without prenatal care or documented syphilis test results during their current pregnancy. It evaluates whether offering routine lab-based and rapid point of care (POC) syphilis testing along with a strong follow-up care program can increase the rates of full treatment for all stages of syphilis. The study also looks at social and healthcare factors like poverty, insurance, and health literacy that might affect treatment completion and health equity. Participants will receive a rapid POC syphilis test using a handheld device that analyzes a small blood sample from a finger stick, providing results within about 10 minutes. Positive results will be recorded in the medical record, and the care team and health department will be notified for timely treatment. This study focuses on pregnant patients without prenatal care or syphilis test documentation during pregnancy, aiming to link them to care effectively. Participants will be followed from the time of testing until delivery and up to 15 months postpartum to assess treatment completion and adherence to recommended maternal and newborn follow-up care. Researchers will collect data on social factors, prenatal visits, reinfection rates, and cases of congenital syphilis. The main outcomes include the percentage of patients who receive full treatment within one week of presentation and maintain follow-up through delivery and postpartum. The study runs until February 2028 and is sponsored by The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.

Offering Routine and Rapid Point of Care (POC) Syphilis Testing in Pregnant Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department