Is Chlamydia Detected In A Blood Test

What Tests Are Usually Done

STI testing is done by taking swabs and collecting body fluids, which are sent to the lab. Testing for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis is done with a blood sample. Testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea is done with a urine sample, and/or a swab of your genitals, throat or anus. If you have symptoms, other swabs, tests or exams may be recommended.

• Men usually have a blood test, urine test and may have throat and rectal swabs.
• Women usually have a blood test and a pelvic exam. During the pelvic exam, the health care provider takes swabs from the vagina and/or cervix to test for chlamydia and gonorrhea. A Pap test may also be done.

How Soon Can I Get Tested For Stds After Unprotected Sex

Lets say youve recently had unprotected sex and now youre worried that you may have picked up a sexually transmitted disease . With STD rates rising higher than ever before, this is a totally valid and legitimate concern. So what do you do? Getting tested would be a very smart decision, but you may be surprised to learn that you can actually test too early.

If you feel like you could have contracted an STD, your instinct may be to get tested immediately, but this can be a huge mistake. Testing too early can cause inaccurate results, possibly leading you to believe youre STD-free when youre really not. This is because each STD has its own unique incubation period, which you must out wait in order to get accurate results. Like many things in life, timing is everything.

Can A Doctor Tell If You Have Chlamydia By Looking At Your Cervix

The way that doctors test for chlamydia is somewhat different for women and men. This is due to the locations that chlamydia infects in each sex. Women: Your gynecologist will most likely use a speculum to view your cervix. She will retrieve a sample from your cervix using a small swab, which will get sent to a lab.

Also Check: Can You Buy Chlamydia Treatment Over The Counter

What Do The Results Mean

A positive result means you have been infected with chlamydia. The infection requires treatment with antibiotics. Your health care provider will give you instructions on how to take your medicine. Be sure to take all the required doses. In addition, let your sexual partner know you tested positive for chlamydia, so he or she can be tested and treated promptly.

Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.

Types Of Chlamydia Pneumoniae

Chlamydia is intracellular bacterium which makes the host cell parasitized for energy. They have cell walls with outer and inner membranes just like Gram-negative bacteria. They replicate by binary fission and contain RNA, DNA and ribosomes.

But they differ from true bacteria because they do not possess the ability to produce their adenosine triphosphate. The life cycle of a Chlamydia can be divided into Raticulate Bodies and Elementary Bodies.

They can be divided into 4 types of species:

Read Also: Can You Get A Shot For Chlamydia

Benefits Of Early Detection And Treatment

If you think you may have an STD, its important to stop engaging in sexual activity and seek treatment. Early detection and treatment of STDs plays an important role in stopping the transmission of STDs between yourself, your sexual partners, and their sexual partners. In some cases, it can even save your life.

Some of the potential risks of untreated STDs include:

• pregnancy and birth-related risks, from untreated bacterial STDs, HIV, and hepatitis B
• organ damage, dementia, paralysis, or death, from untreated syphilis

Taking care of your sexual health is important. Not everyone will voluntarily disclose their STD status to you. You can take control of your sexual health by asking questions, screening new sexual partners, and having open and honest discussions about sexually transmitted diseases.

Can Blood Tests Detect Chlamydia

Among the number of reasons why people are worried about getting an STD test performed is that they fear it will be embarrassing or require uncomfortable swabbing. Thanks to significant improvements in testing technology, many STDs can be detected via a blood or urine test. Urine tests are primarily used to detect chlamydia.

Testing chlamydia requires testing for the antibodies of the chlamydia bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis with a blood test using a small sample of blood. Although chlamydia is not a blood-borne disease, the body creates antibodies to fight off various diseases and infections, which are found in the blood. Although the test detects the presence of chlamydia antibodies, these antibodies could be the result of a previous chlamydia infection and would result in a false positive.

Recommended Reading: What Are The First Signs Of Chlamydia

Did You Know It Gets In Your Mouth Oh And Your Butt Too

Thats right guys , were talking about those pesky sexually transmitted infections, gonorrhea and chlamydia. And you read that rightit can end up in your mouth and your butt.

So listen up to learn about the only way to test for these two serious infections, because your previous provider may not have done it correctly.

How Is The Test Used

Chlamydia testing is used to screen for and diagnose sexually transmitted infections caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis.

Testing for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae is often done at the same time since the infections caused by these two bacteria can have similar signs and symptoms. These bacteria may be acquired at the same time, and you may have infections with both. A definitive diagnosis is important since the two infections require different antibiotic treatment.

Repeat testing is recommended to ensure that treatment has been effective. This is done about three months after you have completed treatment.

Also Check: Does Any Antibiotic Cure Chlamydia

Is There A Rapid Test For Chlamydia

There has been a rapid test developed by researchers for Chlamydia. Chlamydia trachoma is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial infection in the world. The number of diagnoses in has risen steadily since the mid-1990s, spiking in the millions in 2005. If left untreated, the disease can result in complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility. However, the disease often goes undiagnosed as up to 70% of infected women do not show symptoms.

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!

Don’t Miss: How Long Does Chlamydia Last Without Treatment

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.

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.

Don’t Miss: What To Take For Gonorrhea And Chlamydia

When To Get Tested

Ocular And Genital Tract

For ocular and genital tract sites, the laboratory usually receives swabs in transport medium containing antibiotics. Specimens to be assayed by commercial EIA, DFA, NAH or NAA should be handled as specified in the package insert. Homemade test protocols should be validated based on performance and consensus as per the guidelines of accrediting agencies.

Don’t Miss: How Long Before Signs Of Chlamydia

What To Expect From A Chlamydia Blood Test

When the body is infected by the chlamydia trachomatis bacteria, it develops antibodies called IgM antibodies that circulate in the blood. This chlamydia blood test identifies if these IgM antibodies are in the blood to determine if there is a current chlamydia infection

It should be noted that chlamydia is not a bloodborne disease. This chlamydia blood test should not be used to diagnose chlamydia infection of the urogenital area . This chlamydia test helps determine if a chlamydia infection is affecting non-genital regions of the body, for example, chlamydia trachomatis can cause conjunctivitis . If youre interested in getting tested to diagnose a chlamydia infection of the urogenital area, consider a urine chlamydia test.

A chlamydia blood test requires a blood draw from the arm. To complete this test, place your order on our website and use our lab locator to find a location that is most convenient for you. You do not need an appointmentsimply show your lab requisition form upon arriving to the lab. The results will to your HealthLabs.com account in one to three business days.

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?

Recommended Reading: What Happens If A Male Has Chlamydia For Too Long

Will I Need To Do Anything To Prepare For The Test

You don’t need any special preparations for a blood test. If you’re a woman, you may need to avoid douches and vaginal creams for 24 hours before a urine or swab test.

You may need to empty your bladder before a lumbar puncture.

Your provider will let you know if you need to make any other preparations.

How Much Does The Test Cost

The cost of chlamydia testing varies based on many factors. Chlamydia testing may be paid for by health insurance when ordered by a doctor. Because health plans vary, its important for patients to discuss the cost of testing, including any copays or deductibles, with their health plan.

For patients without health insurance coverage, the cost of testing may include the cost of the office visit and sample collection as well as technician fees. Testing may also be available for free or at low cost through community-based organizations and local health departments.

Read Also: How Do Guys Get Tested For Chlamydia

How Long Does It Take To Show Up In The Throat

Symptoms of chlamydia in your throat are typically caused by having oral sex with someone whos contracted the infection.

Its much less common to notice throat symptoms, but they may still appear after a week or so, up to a few months or longer.

STI tests that look for chlamydia arent always done on the throat since its an area that does not carry the infection often. Ask your doctor for a throat swab or other chlamydia test if you think youve been exposed through oral sex.

Here are the most common symptoms of chlamydia in both people with penises and people with vulvas.

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.

Don’t Miss: Having Chlamydia For A Long Time

When Should I Get Tested For Stds

How To Read Chlamydia Test Results

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections . Reading test results at home is easy. You just need to take care of few things while reading your result.

It is mostly seen in the USA, Canada and UK. If this infection is not treated properly then it can cause serious problems later on. Chlamydia test helps in diagnosing this infection. It occurs due to Anal Sex, oral sex, unprotected sex. Sometimes touching genital organs of partners also this transmits this infection.

Requirement of Chlamydia test:-

Home Chlamydia test use person urine or a sample of body fluid to check whether Chlamydia bacteria are present and causing infection. The best part of this test is that person does not need to undress or swab. Before giving test person is not required to fast.

Also Check: How To Tell If You Have Chlamydia Or Gonorrhea