How To Collect A Throat Swab
Chlamydia can be spread to the throat during oral sex, despite most frequently infecting the cervix, urethra or rectum. Pharyngeal swabbing is the preferred method of specimen collection, which involves swabbing the area behind the nasal cavities, mouth, and larynx.
Use a sterile flocked swab that comes with a transport medium filled vial, ex: Universal Transport Media system
Have the patient tilt their head backwards, open their mouth, and stick out their tongue
Without touching the side of the mouth, swab the posterior nasopharynx and the tonsillar arches
Remove swab and insert into a vial containing 1-3 ml of transport media
Break the swab handle at scored breakpoint line
Label the vial with appropriate patient information
Over The Counter Chlamydia Tests
We also offer a range of home testing kits which you can buy online, some of these only test for chlamydia whereas others offer a more comprehensive test for STIs and STDs .
We offer a range of LetsGetChecked STI testing kits, each of which test for a different number and combination of STIs including chlamydia. Each test includes simple instructions for you to follow, allowing you to take the samples needed in the comfort of your own home. Once you have taken these samples you can then post them in a discreetly packaged box to an accredited laboratory for analysis. Your accurate and confidential results will then be delivered to your personal account within five days, if you test positive a member of the LetsGetChecked nursing support team will contact you to provide treatment and aftercare.
Why Test For Chlamydia
Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection in the UK. It affects both men and women.
It often has no symptoms, so you might not know you have it. The only way to find out is to take a test.
Even if you dont think youve been at risk and you dont have any symptoms, taking a chlamydia test is still a good idea its a simple way to find out how easy it is to get tested.
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When Should I Test Again For Chlamydia
Getting retested about three months after treatment for chlamydia is recommended for both assigned males and assigned females. This should be done even if your partner was also treated.
Reinfection is possible, and most cases that are found after treatment are because of this possibility, rather than the failure of the treatment itself.
Pregnant individuals should be retested three weeks after treatment is completed. Pregnant individuals at high risk should also get tested again in the third trimester.
How Long Does It Take For Chlamydia To Show Up On A Test
How long it takes for the results to show up depends on the test performed and on your specific health as an individual. Urine tests take about 2 to 5 days to show a positive or negative result, positive meaning it was found and negative meaning it wasnt. If the blood is analyzed on site, blood tests can come back with results in a few minutes. However, if sent off to a lab, they can take a week or more. To show a positive or negative, swab results take about 2 to 3 days.
Your doctor will likely prescribe one of the following to help treat the infection:
- Azithromycin This antibiotic is usually taken in one big dose and is also referred to as Z-Pal.
- Doxycycline This antibiotic is usually taken twice a day for a week.
- Erythromycin This antibiotic is normally taken frice a day for a week.
- Levofloxacin This antibiotic is taken once a day for a week.
- Ofloxacin This antibiotic is given in doses that are taken twice daily for a week.
If you or someone you know needs to be tested for chlamydia, come to Express Healthcare today! Our kind and compassionate health care professionals are experienced in testing for chlamydia and other STIs and provide confidential, discreet results, so you can feel comfortable knowing that your test results are private. Contact our office today to talk with a member of our specialist team. Go online or simply give us a to book an appointment with us today!
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Understanding The Risks And Symptoms
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What Do The Results Mean
- A negative test result means that you did not have a chlamydia infection when the sample was collected.
- A positive test result means you have been infected with chlamydia.
If your test result is positive, you will need antibiotics to treat your infection. Your provider will give you instructions on how to take your medicine. To make sure your infection is cured, follow the instructions carefully and finish all the medicine.
You will also need to let your sexual partner/s know you tested positive for chlamydia so that they can be tested and treated if necessary. Three months after you finish treatment, you will need to be tested for chlamydia again to check for a new infection. That’s because repeat infections are very common. Ask your provider to tell you how often to get tested after that.
Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
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Best For Lab Choice: Personalabs
A person can choose either a specific test for chlamydia and gonorrhea or a comprehensive or 11-panel test that both involve submitting a blood and urine sample.
After buying a test, the person takes a form to a nearby lab, where a technician collects the samples. The lab posts the results to the individuals online account. The customer may then speak with a doctor regarding any required prescriptions.
This company does not have BBB accreditation but has an A+ rating on the platform. No customers have filed a complaint or left a review with the BBB regarding PersonaLabs since its 2006 launch.
How Does Chlamydia Affect A Pregnant Person And Their Baby
In newborns, untreated chlamydia can cause:
- ophthalmia neonatorum ,
Prospective studies show that chlamydial conjunctivitis and pneumonia occur in 18-44% and 3-16%, respectively, of infants born to those with chlamydia. 9-12 Neonatal prophylaxis against gonococcal conjunctivitis routinely performed at birth does not effectively prevent chlamydial conjunctivitis.37-39
Screening for and treating chlamydia in pregnant people is the best way to prevent disease in infants. At the first prenatal visit and during the third trimester, screen:
- All pregnant people under age 25 and
- All pregnant people 25 years and older at increased risk for chlamydia .
Retest those with infection four weeks and three months after they complete treatment.40
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Questions For Your Doctor About Test Results
It can be helpful to bring questions to your doctor to learn more about your chlamydia test results. Helpful questions may include:
- What is my chlamydia test result?
- Did my test check for any other STDs?
- Do I need any treatment based on my results?
- How can I talk to my sexual partners about chlamydia?
- When should I be tested for STDs and how often?
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Is Every Home Testing Kit The Right Pick
There is no guarantee that one particular test kit is most suited for you it depends on every individual. Whether you have a history of STIs or you want to purchase a specific kit based on your needs, you should consult with a health professional first. If you have any doubts about picking the ideal kit for you, a professional can advise you on what test kit would be a better fit for your sexual health.
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What Health Problems Can Result From Chlamydia
The initial damage that chlamydia causes is often unnoticed. However, infections can lead to serious health problems with both short- and long-term effects.
If a woman does not receive treatment, chlamydia can spread into the uterus or fallopian tubes, causing PID. Symptomatic PID occurs in about 10-15% of women who do not receive treatment.30,31 However, chlamydia can also cause subclinical inflammation of the upper genital tract . Both acute and subclinical PID can cause long-term damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus, and surrounding tissues. The damage can lead to chronic pelvic pain, tubal factor infertility, and potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy.32,33
Some patients with PID develop perihepatitis, or Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome. This syndrome includes inflammation of the liver capsule and surrounding peritoneum, which can cause right upper quadrant pain.
In pregnant people, untreated chlamydia can lead to pre-term delivery,34 ophthalmia neonatorum , and pneumonia in the newborn.
Reactive arthritis can occur in men and women, following infection with or without symptoms. This is sometimes part of a triad of symptoms formerly referred to as Reiters Syndrome.35
Best For Detecting Infections Early: Health Testing Centers
- Pros: wide range of options, accurate, early detection
- Cons: some options are expensive
A person can choose from two kits that test for chlamydia and gonorrhea or a complete STI test.
After ordering the test, the individual visits a lab, where a technician collects the samples. If the results are positive, the person can have a free consultation with a doctor, who can order prescriptions if necessary.
This company has accreditation from the BBB, which gives it an A+ rating. It has received 5 out of 5 stars from an average of three customer reviews.
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How Does Chlamydia Spread
Chlamydia is spread when a person has unprotected sex with an infected person.
Because chlamydial infection often has no symptoms, many people do not realise they have the infection.
Even if you know a person well, you may not be able to tell they have an STI, because people can look healthy and still have chlamydia.
Remember, you can get chlamydia and other STIs from a new sexual partner who has in the past had sex with someone who is infected.
It can also be spread from a long-term partner who has had sex with other people.
Where To Get Tested
A person can undergo testing for chlamydia at their:
- local health department
- local planned parenthood center
A person can also order a chlamydia test online, take it at home, and then send it off for testing.
If people are at high risk of chlamydia, they may need screening for all types of chlamydia every 36 months.
At risk groups include people who have:
- multiple or unknown sexual partners
- sex in combination with illegal drug use
- sexual partners who use illegal drugs or have multiple partners
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How Will I Get The Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Test Result
You will receive a notification email informing you that your results are available. This email will contain a link to the secure communications area where your results will be available. Please read the email for important information associated with the login process. Once you have successfully logged into the secure communication area, additional instructions will be available to guide you to the appropriate area to view, print and/or save your results.
Can Urgent Care Really Help Me With An Std Test
The short answer is, yes! Many people who are looking for routine or precautionary STD tests visit urgent care facilities instead of a private practice or their primary care physician. Urgent care facilities are a great option if you are concerned that you may have contracted an STD and need to see a physician.
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Should My Partners Be Tested For Chlamydia
If you receive a chlamydia diagnosis, your partners need to be tested, too. Since this bacterial infection is highly contagious, it spreads easily through sexual contact.
You and your partners may need regular testing until the infection fully disappears. In the meantime, its a good idea to use barrier methods during sexual contact, such as using condoms.
What Does A Positive Chlamydia Test Result Mean
If the test is positive, the lab detected the bacteria that cause chlamydia. This means you have a chlamydia infection and will need treatment . You will also need to notify your sexual partners, so they can get tested, too.
After finishing treatment, you will need additional follow-up chlamydia tests. You may need another test three weeks after treatment and possibly another test three months later. Ask your provider when you should get a follow-up test.
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When Should I Call My Doctor About A Chlamydia Test
A note from Cleveland Clinic
A chlamydia test is essential to limiting the spread of this sexually transmitted infection. Its especially important to get screened for chlamydia regularly if youre at a higher risk of this STI. Untreated, the infection can cause health problems and you can spread it to your partner. While youre waiting for results and during treatment, avoid having sex. Wait until your provider says its safe to have sex again. Be sure to use a condom and practice safe sex to avoid getting an STI.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 01/28/2022.
References
How Do Std Tests Work
Home STD testing kits typically screen for one or more STDs using a urine sample, a blood sample or both types of samples. After the sample is collected, you package it and send it away to a laboratory using an envelope included in the kit. Results are either published anonymously online or provided over the phone or through the mail. You can read the product descriptions to find out more about whatâs involved with each of the testing kits in this product selection. Make sure to take note of which STDs the kit can detect.
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How Over The Counter Antibiotics Help To Get Rid Of Chlamydia
Just went for accurate Chlamydia swab test and want to know about possible OTC for it? Here are some helpful tips for you. The existence of antibiotics has brought a new era in a medical world. Antibiotics are been used in a clinical practice which has allowed or helps in saving millions of lives, that is if been prescribed by a medical expert who knows the pros and cons of the disease. Although antibiotics are been prescribed and are always taken to preventive measures without further considerations. This now decreases the number of resistant, making bacterial strains reduce along side with it.
Over the counter has helped a lot in reducing the stress in rushing to hospitals or clinics in a far distance. The only good thing there is just know the right prescription for it and the problem is solved. So with over the counter antibiotics, it has helped so far by in various ways:
What Happens If I Get Chlamydia When Im Pregnant
- Chlamydia during pregnancy has been associated in very rare cases with problems such as premature birth, and infection of the uterus lining after the birth.
- It can be passed to the baby during the birth and before the baby is born. This can cause inflammation and discharge in the babys eye and/or pneumonia.
- You may be offered a chlamydia test as part of your antenatal care.
- Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics when youre pregnant and when youre breastfeeding. The antibiotics wont harm the baby, but do tell the doctor or nurse that youre pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Youll be advised to have another test after you complete your treatment.
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What About Rectal And Oral Swabs
Rectal swabs and oral swabs may also be considered for those who have or unprotected oral sex. These tests are known as extragenital, or outside of the genital region, testing. These tests are important to do if chlamydia is suspected but your urine test came back negative.
Rectal and oral swabs can be collected at home and dropped off the same day at a lab, or done in a medical office or lab.