When Is The Best Time To Get Tested For Chlamydia
After youve been exposed or believe to be incontact with an infected individual, its important to get tested. Most doctorswill recommend that you wait 1 to 5 days after youve been exposed tothis infection if you want the bacteria to show up on tests. If you go toosoon, you might get inaccurate test results.
If you are positive and get treatment, you shouldreturn for another test after 21 or 28 days to make sure the bacteria have beencompletely removed from your system, and you will not transmit it to yourpartner.
If you are planning to take additional precautions,you can also test for other STIs like hepatitis, syphilis, HIV, and more.
How Long Does It Take To Show Up In People With Penises
Theres no significant difference in the amount of time it takes for chlamydia symptoms to show up for people with penises as compared to people with vulvas.
The only major difference in the time it takes for symptoms to show up among people of various sexes may be related to how often symptoms show up.
According to the Childrens National Health System, 90 percent of people with vulvas dont ever experience any physical symptoms, while 70 percent of people with penises never notice any symptoms.
This difference in who actually experiences symptoms between these two groups may have some effect on how long it takes for symptoms show up. But theres never been any definitive link between your sex and when your symptoms appear.
What Does The Test Measure
Chlamydia testing looks for evidence of infection with the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. There are several types of tests that can be used to detect chlamydia, including molecular testing, also called Nucleic Acid Amplification Test , and cell culture.
NAAT is the preferred method for detecting a chlamydia infection. This type of test detects the genetic material of Chlamydia trachomatis. It can be performed using a urine sample or swab of fluid taken from a site of potential infection such as the urethra, vagina, rectum, or eye.
Traditionally, NAAT takes a day or more to provide results, but there have also been rapid chlamydia tests developed using NAAT methods. Rapid chlamydia tests can often provide a result within 30 to 90 minutes. Rapid chlamydia tests are typically performed on urine samples or swabs of fluid taken from the vagina or cervix.
Although much less commonly used, cell cultures can help diagnose a chlamydia infection. Chlamydia cell cultures may be used in children with a suspected chlamydia infection, when evaluating potential infections in the anus or rectum, and when initial treatment for chlamydia is unsuccessful. In these cases of treatment failure, doctors may use a cell culture to help understand which treatments may be most effective for an individuals infection.
Other types of chlamydia tests are available but are rarely used given the accuracy and availability of NAAT.
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Diagnostic Tests For Chlamydia In Male Patients
The process of diagnosing chlamydia in men works slightly different from how the procedure works in female patients. There are certain laboratory tests that a doctor will need to perform on a male patient to determine if they have been infected with chlamydia. Additionally, the doctor will also need to rule out the presence of other sexually transmitted infections. This is critical due to the fact that some of the other STIs that can affect a man may have similar symptoms as chlamydia.
The first test performed on men who are suspected of having been infected with the chlamydia bacterial infection is a urine sample test. The doctor will ask the male patient to provide them with a urine sample. The sample will then be sent toward a laboratory.
A scientist at the laboratory facility will analyze the urine sample that was sent to them. This will help them determine if the organism that causes chlamydia is present in the urine of the patient. This may provide an indication of chlamydia urethritis, which means the urethra of the patient has been infected with the bacterial infection.
If the patient experiences discharge from the tip of their penis, then a swab might also be conducted. This test is called a urethral discharge culture. A technician or a doctor will be able to perform the swab itself.
What Is Gen Probe Test
The Gen-Probe identification test is a rapid DNA probe test which uses nucleic acid hybridization for the identification of certain mycobacteria. Gen-Probe manufactures four Accuprobe kits to test for the following organisms: M. tuberculosis complex, M. avium complex, M. gordonae, and M. kansasii.
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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.
How Can Chlamydia Be Prevented
The most reliable ways to avoid infection with chlamydia or any sexually transmitted disease are to abstain from oral, vaginal, and anal sex or to be in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner. People who are sexually active should correctly and consistently use condoms to reduce the risk of infection with chlamydia and other STDs.
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How Long Will It Take For Chlamydia To Show Up In Men
Both women and men need the same amount of time forchlamydia symptoms to show up, and there is no major difference in the timelinenecessary for the bacteria to reproduce. The only huge difference is thefrequency of the symptoms men might experience. Based on statistics, 70% of mendont notice any symptoms at all, while 90% of women dont notice physicalsymptoms only.
Can I Take The Test At Home
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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Precautions To Be Taken To Maintain Normal Levels
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted disease and affects a large population every year. The most common risk factors include unsafe and unprotected sexual activities, having multiple partners, co-infection, or previous infection with another sexually transmitted infections.
Precautionary steps such as using condoms during vaginal or anal sex, using condoms or dams to cover genitals, avoiding use and sharing of sex toys, having a monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner, and certain lifestyle changes, can help prevent the chances of being infected. The best way to prevent infections is to abstain from sexual activities completely.
If you are being treated for the infection, it is advised to take the medications regularly and avoid any sexual contact until the treatment is completed.
How To Read Blood Test Results Of Chlamydia
As symptoms of this infection is difficult to figure out. So, if the person feels the even minor chance of having it then he/she go for these tests. Prevention is always better than cure. So, everyone should refrain from those activities which can cause diseases. Men should use a condom during sexual intercourse to avoid any risk. Also, if they are tested they should take medicine. As this disease can happen again after some time so the person should be more watchful. This infection can lead up to HIV which can lead to death so human being should be highly careful for this and should always take preventive action to stop this disease form happening.
If you dont want to go to laboratory then try to use at home chlamydia test kit. It is reliable and accurate too.
Originally posted 2016-08-27 07:25:47.
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Is The Chlamydia Blood Test Equally Effective
A Chlamydia blood test is done which shows the presence of the antibodies for the chlamydia trachomatis bacteria in your blood. However, the results are not conclusive. It may show false results. The test may come out false positive and can show the presence of antibodies which may be due to a past infection. Blood tests may fail to give definitive results of whether the person had the infection during the time of the test or whether he had it in the past. So, blood tests for chlamydia are not so effective and may not give the correct prognosis for the infection.
How To Test For Chlamydia
You can use an at-home chlamydia test or get tested at a clinic. A chlamydia test kit like the Everlywell test requires a urine sample you collect with materials included with the kit. You then send the sample to a lab and get secure, online results a few days later. Screening at a clinic may require a urine sample or oral and/or rectal samples collected with a swab . How you get your results will depend on the clinic you go to.
Hereâs how to test for chlamydia at home using the Everlywell Chlamydia & Gonorrhea Test kit:
- Register your kit online. Use the unique ID included inside your kit and go to www.everlywell.com/register. Write your date of birth and the sample collection date on the transport tube provided by the kit.
- Collect your sample by urinating into the specimen collection cup thatâs included with the kit.
- Use the pipette to place the sample into a transport tube, and put the tube into the biohazard bag .
- Place the bag into the shipping envelope , apply the prepaid shipping label, and place your envelope in the mail. Your sample will then arrive at a laboratory, where it will be analyzed for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
- Just days later, youâll be notified that your results are ready. You can privately view your results online on our secure platform.
Taking a chlamydia test at home is a great way to skip the trip to your doctorâs office âand, instead, check for chlamydial infections from the comfort and privacy of your home.
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Causes Of A Positive Chlamydia Test
Certain situations can give false positive result on a blood test. Presence of antibodies against the bacteria may not always indicate a current infection. It can indicate a previous infection but cannot determine if the patient has infection at the time of the test. This may give a false positive result on the test.
How To Get Tested For Chlamydia
If you’re wondering how to test for chlamydia safely, here are several ways you can do so. Depending on your medical history and health concerns, your healthcare provider may suggest more than one test to see if you have a sexually transmitted infection. A panel might require a blood sample, genital swab, or urine sample.
While chlamydia isn’t a bloodborne disease, blood tests can determine whether you have chlamydia antibodies, which can reveal current or past chlamydia infections.
A penile or vaginal swab is another method your healthcare provider may use to test for STIs. For this type of test, your doctor uses a cotton swab for specimen collection.
Can you test for chlamydia through urine? The answer to this question is âyes,â and itâs quite a common testing method. In fact, you can use a urine sample to test for chlamydia at home. With the Everlywell Chlamydia & Gonorrhea Test, you simply urinate in a collection cup and place your urine specimen in the mail. Your sample is then tested in a CLIA-certified laboratory. The lab that tests your sample uses molecular testing techniquesâknown as nucleic acid amplification testsâwhich identify the DNA of gonorrhea and chlamydia in your sample.
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How Accurate Is Blood Test For Chlamydia
There are basically 2 tests to diagnosis this disease which is Nucleic acid amplification tests and Chlamydia culture. NAAT accuracy level is almost 100% and it is done through urine sample and body fluid. It gives instantaneous results. Chlamydia culture requires time to give the result. It is also 95% accurate but this should be conducted in lab only. Symptoms of Chlamydia are seen clearly. Chlamydia test need some time to detect the bacteria.
Some of the common symptoms are:-
Following symptoms are seen in men:-
- Discharge from the penis
Following Major Chlamydia symptoms are seen in women:-
- Abnormal vaginal discharge
- Pain during intercourse
- Abdominal pain
- Bleeding between periods
This infection can be so dangerous that it can cause HIV which is a deadly disease. A newborn baby can also get contaminated with this disease if parents are suffering from it. This disease is most common in pregnant women.
It is important that person who is diagnosed with should antibiotics and should refrain from sexual activity week for at least 1 week. It is also possible that this infection can happen again after curing it completely. So a person should avoid the reasons which this disease occurs.
Where Can I Get Tested For Chlamydia
You can get tested for chlamydia and other STDs at your doctors office, a community health clinic, the health department, or your local Planned Parenthood health center. In some states, you can do an online visit and take a chlamydia test at home.
STD testing isnt always part of your regular checkup or gynecologist exam you have to ask for it. Be open and honest with your nurse or doctor so they can help you figure out which tests you may need. Dont be embarrassed: Your doctor is there to help, not to judge.
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What Happens During An Std Test
Depending on the type of suspected infection, you may get one of the following types of tests:
Blood tests
- Used to diagnose syphilis, HIV, and sometimes herpes
- During the test, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial
Urine tests
- Used to diagnose trichomoniasis and sometimes gonorrhea
- During the test, you will provide a sterile sample of urine in a cup as instructed by your provider
Swab tests
- Used to diagnose HPV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and herpes
- During the test, a provider will use a special swab to take a sample from the site of the infection. In women, samples may be taken from the vagina or cervix. In men, samples may be taken from the penis or urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body.
Lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap
- This is not a frequently used STD test, but it may be ordered if your provider thinks you have an advanced stage of syphilis or if a herpes infection has affected your brain or spinal cord.
- For this test, a provider will inject an anesthetic into your back, so you won’t feel any pain during the procedure.
- Once the area is numb, the provider will insert a thin, hollow needle between two vertebrae in your lower spine. Vertebrae are the small bones that make up your spine. Your provider will then withdraw a small amount of fluid for testing.
What Is The Chlamydia Trachomatis Test
The Chlamydia trachomatis causes a sexually transmitted disease known as chlamydia. The disease is a common STD that can be contracted during anal, oral or vaginal sex. It can also spread by using and sharing affected sex toys. The CDC estimates approximately 2.86 million are affected by the diseases annually.
There are other signs and symptoms of chlamydia but they don’t usually show up. Symptoms generally occur within 2 to 21 days after being exposed to the STD so testing is very important.
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This Test Will With > 99% Accuracy Tell You Whether Or Not You Have Been Infected With Chlamydia Or Gonorrhea
Like any Everlywell STI test, our at-home Chlamydia & Gonorrhea Test is delivered in discreet packaging and taken in the privacy of your own home. Once you return your test sample to our lab and your sample is processed, youâll be notified via email when your results are ready. You will then be able to access your results through an easy-to-understand report on our secure online platform.
This at-home gonorrhea and chlamydia test checks whether you test positive for gonorrhea or chlamydia.
In the event that your test results are positive, a board-certified physician in your state will contact you at no additional cost to discuss your particular case, and when appropriate, prescribe medication.
We take customer privacy very seriously, and only you will have access to this information. As is the case with all STD testing – whether through Everlywell at-home tests or your healthcare provider â we may be required by law to report positive test results to certain state health departments. This is only done to track the prevalence of a sexually transmitted disease. In rare cases you may not receive a definitive result because of early infection or inadequate sampling and repeat testing is suggested. Donât take a chance on your sexual health. Know where you stand with our at-home Chlamydia & Gonorrhea test. You can also take our at-home STD Test for men or our STD Test for women.