Are There At Home Chlamydia Tests

Different Types Of Chlamydia Tests

Chlamydia tests are used to determine whether the person who is being tested has chlamydia infection. The advance in technology has helped us find much easier and more reliable way to diagnose the disease.

There are various types of Chlamydia tests. Nucleic Acid Amplification Test is commonly used in medicine and it is the most reliable test. NAAT is a molecular test that detects the genetic material of Chlamydia trachomatis. NAAT is successful in over 99 percent of cases.

NAAT can be performed on a vaginal swab of women, or urine from both men and women. The urine test requires you to take between 20mL and 30mL of the first urine stream. Sometime chlamydia test become inconclusive.

Other than the NAAT, there are also Chlamydia tests which include culture, which grows the bacteria.

Swab cultures:

• Rectal swab
• Pharyngeal swab

There are also Direct Fluorescent Antibody Stain and DNA probe tests for Chlamydia, but they are rarely used due to the lower efficiency.

Your Instant Chlamydia Testing Process

As soon as you get in touch with your Better2Know expert sexual health advisors you will know you are in safe hands. All our advisors are highly trained and will answer any questions you might have and help you to choose the right test or combination of tests to suit your circumstances. Better2Knows advisory team will help you with your sexual health related concerns, before arranging your private appointment. You do not need to provide your real name to receive confidential STI testing with us. Complete anonymity is offered should this make you feel more comfortable.

Symptoms Of Chlamydia In Men And Women

What symptoms will you experience if you have chlamydia?

This depends on whether you are a female or male. Lets take a look at both symptom types for each respective gender:

Chlamydia Symptoms in Women

• Vaginal discharge that is abnormal and may be accompanied by a strange odor

Chlamydia Symptoms in Men

• Burning or itching around the penal opening
• Swelling or pain around the testicles
• Clear or cloudy discharge which forms around the tip of the penis

If you have any of these symptoms, its time to order an at home Chlamydia test. These tests are taken in the comfort of your home, and offer the utmost in privacy and confidentiality. You can be treated for this disease, but it requires that you take action immediately, especially if youre a woman.

Women who are currently pregnant or become pregnant and have chlamydia can pass the disease onto their child. If you seek treatment that is successful, your child will not have this disease. Disease will be contracted during childbirth itself, and can cause:

• Eye infections
• Pneumonia

Complications do occur during childbirth in some cases. If you are pregnant, you should be tested for chlamydia at your very first prenatal visit. Getting tested is the smart choice for any mother to be, and this is essential if you have more than one sex partner and you engage in unprotected sex.

If you are suffering from any of the symptoms listed above, its time to get tested.

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How Accurate Are At Home Chlamydia Tests

At home chlamydia tests are as accurate as those you would take in a clinical setting, provided that samples are collected correctly. Within a lab setting and at home, urine tests for chlamydia correctly identify a positive result 87% of the time, and correctly identify a negative result 99% of the time.

Self collected vaginal swabs identify a correct positive result 92% of the time and a correct negative result 98% of the time.

The most important factor that will determine the accuracy of your at-home chlamydia test is the quality of your sample. A good at-home STD test kit will include everything you need to take the sample correctly, but its still very important to make sure that you follow the instructions carefully to prevent a false result.

If youre taking a urine sample, most tests require that you collect first pass or first catch urine, which means that you must make sure to collect the first milliliters of urine that you pass. If your test includes a pouch for collection, you shouldnt overfill it, since it could dilute the sample and reduce the tests sensitivity. Some tests will also recommend that you use the first urine in the morning, or that you havent urinated 1-2 hours prior to taking the sample.

How Do You Test For Chlamydia

Nucleic Acid Amplification The three NAA tests described below work by finding the DNA of chlamydia bacteria. Because NAA tests search for the bacterias genetic material, it is very unlikely that a false-positive test result will occur. The incubation period for chlamydia is 1-5 days, so wait at least five days after potential chlamydia exposure before getting tested to ensure the most accurate results possible.

Urine samples

• Testing via urine samples needs to consist of first-catch urine . Patients should not include more than the first-catch in the collection cup to avoid diluting the sample.
• Patients should not urinate for at least one hour prior to providing a sample.
• Female patients should not cleanse the labial area prior to providing the specimen.

Swab cultures

• Neonates conjunctival swab

Why shouldnt you get tested for chlamydia via a blood test?

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay Antibodies, IgM

• IgM antibodies are found mainly in the blood and lymph fluid they are the first antibody to be made by the body to fight a new infection.
• This blood samples results should not be used as a diagnostic procedure without confirmation of the diagnosis by another medically established diagnostic product or procedure.

Enzyme immunoassay Antibodies, IgG

• IgG antibodies are the most abundant type of antibody they are found in all body fluids and protect against bacterial and viral infections.

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How Will I Get My Results

If you don’t have chlamydia, we will let you know the result by text.

If you do have chlamydia and need treatment, we will call you to arrange an appointment at a clinic of your choice.

You should return for a repeat test/treatment if:

• you think you have come into contact with chlamydia again
• you and your partner had any form of unsafe sex within seven days of taking the chlamydia treatment
• you didn’t finish taking your treatment or didn’t take it according to the instructions
• the signs and symptoms dont go away.

You should also get tested at a GUM clinic if your original test was negative but you then develop symptoms of chlamydia.

If your symptoms dont improve, you should contact a clinic or on 0808 802 1221. This includes any pelvic pain that doesn’t improve or any pain when having sex.

How Trichomoniasis Tests Work

Testing is the only way to accurately diagnose trichomoniasis. There are several testing options. You can seek in-office testing or order at-home STI tests.

In the office, testing is completed by taking a swab of the vaginal discharge or urine testing, Vo says. Newer tests using DNA have been more readily available, and are also used in the clinical setting.

At-home testing is also an option for those who want a discreet and cost-effective way to screen for trichomoniasis. This may also appeal to people who do not want STI testing on their medical record.

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How Quickly Do You Need To Return The Samples

Once youve taken your samples, you should return them straight away in the freepost envelope provided. All of our kits have a 4 month expiry date so please make sure you use and return them as soon as you can.

Please note: STIs do not show up immediately in test results. If you take the sample too soon you might be given the all-clear by mistake. For Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea tests, we recommend waiting to take your samples until 2 weeks has passed since the unprotected sex that youre worried about.

How Long Does A Chlamydia Test Take

You will receive the result of your instant Chlamydia test just 10 minutes after providing your sample. After your trained doctor has completed the analysis of your sample, you will be given a signed and completed copy of the Better2Know Rapid Test Results Report. This will detail your confidential results.

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When To Test For Std

Many STDs can cause serious health complications, and it’s possible to have an STD without experiencing any warning signs or symptoms. As a result, testing is the only way to know for sure whether or not you have an STD that may require treatment and potentially be spread to a partner. Generally, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual testing for sexually active men and women, particularly for those who have multiple partners or new partners.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Std Testing At Home Without A Doctor

Not visiting a doctors office and heading directly into STD testing could save you time and money, especially if you dont have health insurance. In addition, during the pandemic routine, in-person medical visits are discouraged to protect patients from potential contagion and to allow hospitals to devote resources to the most urgent needs.

However, deciding on the best STD test for you can be difficult theres a large number of available options, and it can be tough to identify precisely what tests you may need . The most common STDs that physicians screen for are chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV.

The CDC recommends that all sexually active women who are younger than 25 years old be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea every year. Women who are 25 years or older who have new or multiple sex partners or a sex partner with an STD should also be tested every year.

HIV testing often falls into its own category. Testing and care on that front is more likely to be available in clinics but there are also newer tests that can enable sample collection and results at home from start to finish.

Poor sample collection is always a risk in diagnostic testing, but it can be even more of an issue when it comes to collecting a sample by yourself. So be sure to follow the instructions precisely.

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Each Year There Are Approximately 15 Million Cases Of Chlamydia And 350000 Cases Of Gonorrhea Reported To The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention

However this may not accurately reflect the total number of infected individuals, as most people with these infections have no symptoms and go untested. These bacterial infections are spread through sexual intercourse . This test will not be able to tell you the specific site of the infection, but will detect the infection if present.

Pregnant women with an active gonorrhea or chlamydia infection at the time of vaginal delivery can spread the infection directly to their children during birth. All sexually active women under age 25 and women over age 25 with risk factors for contracting chlamydia or gonorrhea should get tested every year: risk factors include unprotected sex, new sexual partners, or multiple sexual partners. Men at risk for chlamydia or gonorrhea should get tested each year, and more often as needed: risk factors include having sex with a partner who has chlamydia or gonorrhea, men who have sex with men, unprotected sexual intercourse, and multiple sex partners.

How Accurate Are At

The accuracy of STI testing depends on the quality of the sample that you send for testing. Some people are concerned that at-home chlamydia screening may not be as accurate as those done in a healthcare facility because healthcare providers do not take the samples. One study that looked at people who collected their own samples for STI testing had test results of equal or better accuracy than clinical providers .

However, another trial showed that the samples collected by the providers were slightly more accurate. Still, the researchers felt that at-home testing is a reasonable option for those with a barrier to getting sexual health care .

Another problem is that many at-home testing chlamydia testing kits only provide the option to send a urine sample. For women, a vaginal/cervical swab is better at diagnosing chlamydia than urine tests. Data suggests that self-collected vaginal swabs may be as accurate as those collected by the providers .

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When Should I Test For Syphilis

The first stage of syphilis can easily go undetected. The symptoms in the second stage are also common symptoms of other illnesses. This means that if any of the following applies to you, consider getting tested for syphilis. It doesnt matter if youve ever had any symptoms. Get tested if you:

• have had condomless sex with someone who might have had syphilis
• are pregnant

Preparing For The Test At Home

• Avoid having sex before taking the test. If you have symptoms or think you might have an STD, its best to stay abstinent until after getting your results.
• Dont use any washes, deodorant sprays, or other powders on your genitals. They could irritate the area.
• Try to take your test when you dont have your period. If youre having any unusual bleeding, make an appointment with your doctor right away.
• Dont douche for at least 24 hours prior to taking your test. Douching washes away the vaginal fluids that are needed for the test. Its best not to douche at all, actually.

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Are Std Tests Covered By Insurance

While most insurance plans cover the cost of STD tests as these tests are considered preventive and covered under the Affordable Care Act whether your plan covers a specific STD test depends on numerous factors, including your age, gender, risk factors, and if youre pregnant.

Whats more, the coverage of at-home tests varies.

To learn more about your specific options, talk with your nurse, doctor, or health insurance provider.

What Other Stis Should I Get Tested For

Better2Knows instant Chlamydia test can be combined with instants tests for a variety of other STIs including: HIV, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Herpes 1 and 2. This will provide a more comprehensive picture of your sexual health. If you are unsure which instant STI testing option to select, Better2Knows Patient Services team are highly trained to help you select the instant test or screen you need.

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Home Std Tests Are Convenient But There Are Drawbacks

Seeing a health care provider usually is the most reliable way to determine if you have a sexually transmitted disease . In some cases, home testing for STDs provides a convenient or necessary alternative, but it may come with some drawbacks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that of the nearly 20 million estimated new STD infections each year, about half of them are among young people age 15 to 24. The most recent CDC surveys show large surges from 2014 to 2018 in cases of gonorrhea, chlamydia, primary and secondary syphilis, and congenital syphilis.

Some STDs do not cause symptoms or the symptoms are barely noticeable so many infected people dont know they need treatment. If left untreated, though, STDs can lead to severe health complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease, increased risk for HIV, certain cancers, and infertility.

Because the number of infections and need for screening have increased, at-home test kits for STDs such as HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea have grown in popularity. Visiting a clinic is the best choice for screening, but if privacy concerns, inconvenience, or limited access to a provider are issues, then online and home-to-lab STD screening tests may be a good option.

Pros and Cons

UAB Medicine obstetrician and gynecologist Shweta Patel, MD, says home testing may be a good option in certain cases.

After the Results Are In

What Are Std Symptoms And When Do They Usually Happen

Women usually dont have STD symptoms that prompt them to get tested when an STD is detected its typically because a woman has been screened based on her reporting of sexual activity. If symptoms do appear, they may take a few weeks to develop. In addition, STD symptoms can be difficult to tell apart from those of a urinary tract infection or bacterial vaginosis.

• Bleeding from the vagina that is not normal

• Pain deep inside during sex

• Sores, bumps, or blisters in the vagina, anus, or mouth

• Burning and pain with urine or with bowel movements

• Having to go to the bathroom often

Until after the pandemic emergency response is over, the CDC has advised that women with symptoms should be prioritized for testing and treatment and that routine screening should be postponed. But women without symptoms still have options for testing and can seek treatment if they test positive for an STD.

STD symptoms for men can vary, and some infections dont cause external symptoms. For STDs like gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia, symptoms can include:

• Painful urination

• Swollen lymph nodes in the groin

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Am I At Risk For Chlamydia

You may face an increased risk of chlamydia if you have unprotected sex or have multiple sex partners. However, there are other risk factors besides these, so talk with your healthcare provider if you want to know more about your risk and what it could mean for your sexual health. And donât forget: when it comes to prevention and risk-reduction, regular STI screening can be a great place to start.

Chlamydia: Consequences Of An Untreated Infection

Untreated Chlamydia infections can lead to further health problems. Even if you do not have any symptoms, the Chlamydia infection will do harm to your internal organs which can seriously damage your health and affect your ability to have children. The health consequences of an untreated Chlamydia infection can include:

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease or PID
• Blocked fallopian tubes
• Urethritis or an infection of the urethra
• Epididymitis, an infection of the tubes that carry sperm out of the body
• Proctitis, or inflammation of the rectum

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