How long do serologic tests for syphilis remain positive?

Nontreponemal test antibody titers (e.g., VDRL) are reported quantitatively in the form of the highest positive titer. This titer correlates with disease activity and treated patients may demonstrate negative results or very low titers. More than 50% of patients will be seronegative 1 year after treatment. A patient with a positive treponemal test (e.g., FTA-ABS) is less likely to revert to negative and only 24% of patients will be seronegative 1 year after treatment; both treated and untreated patients may demonstrate positive serologic tests for the rest of their lives.