Neurosyphilis is a group of clinical syndromes in which Treponema pallidum invades the nervous system and causes damage to the meninges, blood vessels, brain parenchyma or spinal cord. At present, there is no highly specific and sensitive method for the diagnosis of neurosyphilis, and its diagnosis mainly depends on clinical manifestations, abnormal cerebrospinal fluid and the comprehensive judgment of clinicians. Current studies show that some cytokines and chemokines are promising for laboratory detection of neurosyphilis. This article reviews the research progress of neurosyphilis from the aspects of traditional laboratory testing, polymerase chain reaction testing, cytokine and chemokine testing, and existing diagnostic criteria for neurosyphilis, in order to provide a reference for clinical testing and follow-up research.