The symptoms of syphilis can appear as soon as two weeks after you are infected, but it can take up to 12 weeks. The syphilis blood test can turn positive two weeks after you are infected, but it can take longer. Sometimes the syphilis blood test does not turn positive until 12 weeks after you are infected. That is one reason why we recommend you get treated for syphilis if their partner was positive, even if your test result is negative. The initial symptom is a painless sore at the site of infection - sometimes people don't see the sore, especially if it’s inside the vagina, rectum (butt), or throat.  A few weeks after the sore goes away, most people will develop a rash. The rash can be on the chest, back, arms, legs, hands, feet and/or genitals.