A healthcare provider may perform a physical examination and order specific tests to diagnose a chancre. These tests may include:
1. Darkfield Microscopy: This involves examining a sample from the chancre under a special microscope to detect the presence of Treponema pallidum. 2. Serologic Tests: Blood tests such as the Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) or Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test can detect antibodies produced in response to the infection. 3. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): This test can detect the DNA of Treponema pallidum in lesions or blood.
