Prevalence monitoring in syphilis surveillance: results from a multicenter research program.

Background: Syphilis seroprevalence data can be used as an independent measure of syphilis trends and to augment syphilis case report data for program planning. The prevalence of reactive syphilis serology in jails, delivery rooms, and drug treatment centers was examined from 1995 to 1999. Prevalence was evaluated by age and gender at each site and compared with county primary and secondary syphilis case rates.