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How Is A Chlamydia Test Done

What Is Being Tested

Chlamydia testing in a pigeon done with a quick test from AvianLabs.com

Chlamydia is one of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted diseases in the United States and can cause serious complications if not treated. Chlamydia testing identifies the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis as the cause of your infection.

The preferred method for chlamydia testing is the nucleic acid amplification test that detects the genetic material of Chlamydia trachomatis. It is generally more sensitive and specific than other chlamydia tests and can be performed on a vaginal swab on women or urine from both men and women, which eliminates the need for a pelvic exam in women.

Screening for, diagnosing, and treating chlamydia is very important in preventing long-term complications and spread of the infection to others. Chlamydia infections are especially common among people 15 to 24 years of age. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 2.86 million Americans are infected with chlamydia each year and notes that women are frequently re-infected if their partners don’t get treatment. The actual number of cases may be higher since many people do not experience any symptoms and do not get tested and diagnosed. Still, over one million new cases are reported each year.

Chlamydia is generally spread through sexual contact with an infected partner. Risk factors include having multiple sex partners, infection with another STD at the same time or previous STD infection, and not using a condom correctly and consistently.

  • Long-term pelvic pain
  • Infertility
  • Can Chlamydia Affect My Fertility

    A chlamydia or gonorrhea infection may cause inflammation or scarring of the reproductive organs. Sometimes, this may lead to infertility . Both men and women can experience fertility problems after a chlamydia infection. Your risk of infertility increases if you delay treatment.

    Women with untreated gonorrhea or chlamydia can also develop a condition known as pelvic inflammatory disease . PID sometimes causes your reproductive organs to swell, triggering chronic pelvic pain and making it difficult to conceive.

    Chlamydia and gonorrhea can also trigger early laborâand pregnant women with chlamydia can spread the infection to their babies during delivery .

    Prompt treatment reduces your risk of complications, as undiagnosed chlamydia may put your health at risk. Regular STI testing can help with early diagnosis of the infection, and most people who receive treatment for chlamydia make a full recovery.

    Learning more about the different types of STDs someone can getâlike chlamydiaâcan help you care for your sexual health. To easily check for chlamydia from the comfort of home, simply collect a urine sample and send it to a lab with prepaid shipping using the Everlywell at-home Gonorrhea and Chlamydia test kit.

    Chlamydia Can Be Treated And Cured With Antibiotics

    Individuals diagnosed with chlamydia should abstain from sexual activity for one week after finishing antibiotics. Keep in mind that it is possible to become reinfected with chlamydia after receiving treatment. This is why it is crucial for partners of those who have chlamydia to also get tested and treated if found positive. Chlamydia often occurs along with gonorrhea . If you have one of these STDs, you might have the other because the risk factors and symptoms are very similar. Getting tested for both is important.

    Whether or not symptoms are present, testing or screening for chlamydia can be done as early as 24 hours after exposure. The incubation times vary from person-to-person for the most accurate results, get tested two weeks after initial exposure. If you test positive for chlamydia, it is advised to get retested two weeks after completing treatment to be sure that all of the Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria is cleared from your system.

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    How Is Chlamydia Test Done

    If a urine sample is collected for a NAAT test, a person must not urinate for atleast 2 hours before the test. It is also necessary that a person collects the first part of the urine as soon as urination takes place.

    A person must not wipe the genital area clean before urinating.

    In case, a body fluid is to be collected for testing, the following are the procedures for both men and women:

    For men: A doctor will insert a swab into the opening of your urethra or rectum. A man must not urinate for atleast 2 hours before the sample is taken.

    For women: A woman has to lie on her back on an exam table with her feet raised and supported by stirrups. The doctor will examine the vaginal and genital areas. The doctor will insert a lubricated speculum into the vagina to open up the vaginal walls. Once the vaginal walls are spread apart,the inside of the vagina and cervix become visible. Samples are collected from a cervix with a swab or brush.

    To collect a sample from the eye, the doctor has to gently brush the insides of the lower and upper eyelids with a brush.

    There are self-tests that a woman can perform and bring it to the lab for testing. Throat culture is also a test to detect Chlamydia though it is rarely opted for.

    What Does My Test Result Mean

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    A positive test report means you have the infection and require immediate treatment. A negative test report indicates that you do not have the infection during the time of the test. Re-infection is very common mostly among teenagers. So, individuals with a previous history of chlamydia or who are at risk of the infection may undergo annual screening tests or routine checkups. If you are tested positive, your sexual partner may also have to undergo a routine chlamydia screening test to rule out any infection.

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    Benefits Of Early Detection And Intervention Or Treatment

    The USPSTF found adequate direct evidence that screening reduces complications of chlamydial infection in women who are at increased risk, with a moderate magnitude of benefit.

    The USPSTF found adequate evidence that screening for gonorrhea results in a moderate magnitude of benefit based on the large proportion of cases that are asymptomatic, the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment to reduce infections, and the high morbidity associated with untreated infections.

    The USPSTF found inadequate evidence that screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea reduces complications of infection and transmission or acquisition of either disease or HIV in men. The magnitude of benefit is unknown.

    How Will I Get My Results

    It can take a few days to get your results from a swab test, similar to a Pap smear test in women. If youre a woman, you may also be able to obtain an at-home kit to do the vaginal testing on your own.

    Your doctor will call you with the results of your test. Be sure you give your doctor your preferred phone number where you can have privacy, such as a mobile phone number. If you dont want them to leave you a voicemail, be sure you tell them before you leave your appointment.

    A urine test is much faster to analyze. Your doctor should be able to tell you the results during the same day as your appointment. The downside is that urine tests may not be as accurate as traditional swab testing.

    However, urine testing may be more suitable for men. Its also used for more advanced signs of chlamydia, as your body will have a greater number of bacteria to detect at this stage.

    You can obtain a chlamydia test from:

    • your primary doctor
    • a home testing kit and service

    find affordable testing

    There are clinics that can perform chlamydia testing at a low cost. In some cases, you may obtain testing free-of-charge. You can find a clinic through the American Sexual Health Associations free locator here. All results are confidential.

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    Summary Of Recommendations And Evidence

    The USPSTF recommends screening for chlamydia in sexually active women aged 24 years or younger and in older women who are at increased risk for infection . B recommendation.

    Screening for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea: Clinical Summary of the USPSTF Recommendation

    Population

    note: For a summary of the evidence systematically reviewed in making this recommendation, the full recommendation statement, and supporting documents, go to .

    HIV = human immunodeficiency virus STI = sexually transmitted infection USPSTF = U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

    Screening for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea: Clinical Summary of the USPSTF Recommendation

    Population

    note: For a summary of the evidence systematically reviewed in making this recommendation, the full recommendation statement, and supporting documents, go to .

    HIV = human immunodeficiency virus STI = sexually transmitted infection USPSTF = U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

    The USPSTF recommends screening for gonorrhea in sexually active women aged 24 years or younger and in older women who are at increased risk for infection. B recommendation.

    See the Clinical Considerations section for a description of populations at increased risk for infection.

    The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea in men. I statement.

    Can I Take The Test At Home

    How to use chlamydia rapid test kit / STDrapidtestkits.com

    Tests are available to detect chlamydia at home. Most at-home chlamydia tests are self-collection kits, which allow you to obtain a swab or sample of urine at home and return it to a laboratory by mail. If an at-home chlamydia test returns positive results, a doctor may suggest confirmation testing with a laboratory-based method.

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    Purpose Of Urine Testing For Stds

    It used to be that STD testing, particularly for bacterial STDs, was very uncomfortable.

    Men who thought they might have a bacterial STD like chlamydia or gonorrhea got tested by having a swab inserted into their urethra. Women had to undergo a pelvic exam, during which a cervical swab would be taken and tested for bacteria.

    The fact that STD testing was uncomfortable and invasive made it less likely that people would undergo regular STD screening.

    That probably contributed to what is sometimes known as the hidden epidemic of asymptomatic STDs. Because many STDs have no symptoms, the only way to detect them is through testing. When people aren’t tested regularly, they can spread STDs to their partners without even knowing it.

    Urine testing makes it easier for people to undergo STD testing as part of their regular medical care. Note, however, that STD testing is still not a standard part of most annual exams.

    Comparing Urine Std Tests To Other Std Tests

    Some people still question whether urine testing is as effective at detecting bacterial STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea. These questions usually focus on the efficacy of the tests in women. Why?

    The most common site of female infection is not on the pathway that urine travels out of the body. In contrast, urine passes through the most common site of infection , in men.

    A 2015 review that examined 21 studies on the relative effectiveness of using different types of samples to detect chlamydia and gonorrhea found that:

    • For chlamydia testing in women, the sensitivity and specificity were 87% and 99% for urine samples compared to cervical samples.
    • For chlamydia testing in men, the sensitivity and specificity were 88% and 99% for urine samples compared to urethral samples.
    • For gonorrhea testing in women, the sensitivity and specificity were 79% and 99% for urine samples compared to cervical samples.
    • For gonorrhea testing in men, the sensitivity and specificity were 92% and 99% for urine samples compared to urethral samples.

    By and large, these results are relatively consistent across studies. Interestingly, self-collected vaginal swabs were closer in effectiveness to cervical swabs than urine testing. For some women, those may be a more acceptable alternative to a pelvic exam if urine testing isn’t available.

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    How Is Chlamydia Treated

    Chlamydia is treated with the use of oral antibiotics like Azithromycin or Doxycycline. It is important that the patient finishes all the antibiotics even if he is starts to feel better. The treatment usually clears up in about a week or so. After recovery, a person must get re-tested after 3 months to be sure that the infection is cured.

    In case of severe Chlamydia infection, a person may need hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics, and other pain medicines.

    Who Needs To Get Tested For Chlamydia And Gonorrhea

    China Chlamydia Testing Kit/Gonorrhea Test Kit/ Chlamydia ...

    The recommendations for getting tested for chlamydia and for gonorrhea are the same.

    For women:

    • If you’re age 24 or younger and having sex, get tested once every year
    • If you’re age 25 or older, get tested if you have more than 1 sex partner, a new sex partner, or a sex partner with an STD

    For men:

    • Talk with a doctor to find out if you need to get tested for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or other STDs

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    Online Doctor Sti Tests

    Our Online Doctor service can offer discreet advice and treatment for a number of STIs without the need for a face-to-face appointment. It you are prescribed a treatment you can either have it delivered to you by next day delivery or you can pick it up at participating LloydsPharmacy stores the same day . If you test positive for chlamydia when using one of Online Doctors tests, their clinicians can prescribe you FREE and discreet treatment.

    To find out more about our service and how you can start your confidential consultation .

    I Was Treated For Chlamydia When Can I Have Sex Again

    You should not have sex again until you and your sex partner have completed treatment. If your doctor prescribes a single dose of medication, you should wait seven days after taking the medicine before having sex. If your doctor prescribes a medicine for you to take for seven days, you should wait until you have taken all of the doses before having sex.

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    How Do We Test At The Doctor

    At The Doctor, we get to know you. We encourage patients to be honest, upfront, and out about all issues from sexuality, to mental disposition, to sexual activity. We want to know you so that we can help you stay healthy and active.

    We run a no judgement zone type of clinic where you can be yourself, own your sexuality, and feel comfortable telling us how you engage sexually.

    Based on that sexual history, well identify the type of STI testing you need to make sure we test and treat appropriately. Thats the kind of approach that only comes from a practice that truly understand you and your lifestyle.

    How To Interpret Chlamydia Test Results

    How to Test for STD (Chlamydia & Gonorrhea) DNA Rapidly?

    Lab test results may be positive, negative or in some case inconclusive. A positive test result means the infection is there and the person is suffering from Chlamydia infections. So the person should go for treatment as advised by the doctor. Negative test interprets bacteria is not found and he/she is normal. Sometimes it also means that bacteria are at a very low amount and impact of it is not seen. But if there will be an increment in that then only it will start impacting. Sometimes test result gives inconclusive results. It happens when test result does not clearly indicate whether it is positive or negative.

    How to Conclude Chlamydia Test Result?

    There is a very slight chance of false test result. NAAT accuracy result is almost 100% whereas for Chlamydia culture it is 80%. This test is very necessary to be conducted because it gives accurate results. A person should conduct this test in identified lab only and certified person should see the result. An impact of this infection is huge at later stages. So, diagnosis of this is necessary so that person does not suffer from this infection later and it is easy to curb it at earlier stages later on it becomes difficult to curb its impact.

    This is how, you can read your Chlamydia Test result without any doctor guideline. However, I would suggest you to consult doctor to get proper guideline.

    Originally posted 2016-08-21 15:57:40.

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    What Happens If I Dont Get Treated

    The initial damage that chlamydia causes often goes unnoticed. However, chlamydia can lead to serious health problems.

    If you are a woman, untreated chlamydia can spread to your uterus and fallopian tubes . This can cause pelvic inflammatory disease . PID often has no symptoms, however some women may have abdominal and pelvic pain. Even if it doesnt cause symptoms initially, PID can cause permanent damage to your reproductive system. PID can lead to long-term pelvic pain, inability to get pregnant, and potentially deadly ectopic pregnancy .

    Men rarely have health problems linked to chlamydia. Infection sometimes spreads to the tube that carries sperm from the testicles, causing pain and fever. Rarely, chlamydia can prevent a man from being able to have children.

    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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