Health Specialists’ Top Picks: 2025’s Leading At-Home Syphilis Test Kits

Why Screening Still Matters

Syphilis and congenital syphilis surged sharply between 2018 and 2022, but federal surveillance offers a ray of hope: 2023 data show the first decline in primary and secondary syphilis in more than 20 years, dropping 10% overall, while total syphilis rose only 1%. Congenital cases—passed from mother to baby—climbed just 3%, far below the 30% jumps seen in earlier reports.

Even so, experts warn against complacency. Because syphilis can present mild or no symptoms, registered nurse Lauren Thayer stresses that anyone who suspects exposure should test promptly.

Who’s Most at Risk?

The infection rate is highest among adults 20 to 34, yet Dr. Alyssa Dweck, chief medical officer at Bonafide Health, notes a growing number of diagnoses in perimenopausal and menopausal women. Newly single adults—often due to divorce or widowhood—may skip condoms when pregnancy is no longer a concern, increasing transmission risk.

Discreet Testing at Home

If visiting a clinic feels awkward, at-home kits provide a private alternative. Remote diagnostics are “fantastic,” says Barbara Van Der Pol, director of the UAB STD Diagnostics Laboratory, but consumers must choose carefully because “some bad actors prey on buyers.”

How We Chose the Top Kits

A panel of sexual-health clinicians evaluated 15 reputable tests, scoring each on:

• Ease of use

• Sensitivity and specificity

• Fully at-home sampling vs. lab drop-off

• Cost

• Access to follow-up care and prescriptions

Below, you’ll find the four standout options—for budgets, speed, and telehealth support—plus links to our broader guides to at-home STD and herpes testing.