ATLANTA – Hundreds of people may have been told they tested positive for syphilis when they didn't actually have the disease, health officials say.

A study of five U.S. labs shows about 18 percent of the positive results from a test method used since the 1980s were actually negative, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.

Experts previously thought the statistic was much lower — under 7 percent.

The CDC recommends additional testing when this particular test gives a positive result. But even if most doctors retest, the new research suggests that some people have unnecessarily worried they were infected with an infamous sexually transmitted disease. Read more.

Have you or anyone you know been the victim of incorrect medical tests? (NOT for syphilis-- cuz we really don't need to know that!)

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