What Should I Expect After A Chlamydia Test
After collecting a sample, your provider sends the sample to a lab. If youre using an at-home kit, you will mail the sample to a lab. The lab will test the sample to check for bacterial DNA. Your provider will contact you when the results are ready and discuss the next steps.
While youre waiting for results, its very important to avoid having sex. If you do have the infection and you have sex, you can spread it to others.
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
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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Should I Wait To Get Tested If Im Having Symptoms
No, if youre having symptoms you should go to a sexual health or GUM clinic. A doctor or nurse can give you a test, assess your symptoms and if necessary give you a physical examination. If they think theres a strong chance you have an STI like chlamydia, they might prescribe treatment before you get your test results back.
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Is There Anything Else I Need To Know About A Chlamydia Test
Chlamydia testing can help you avoid lasting health problems and stop the spread of this disease. You can also take steps to protect yourself from getting chlamydia.
- Having sex with only one partner who has tested negative for STDs and who has sex only with you
- Using condoms correctly every time you have sex
What Do False Negative Test Results For Stds Mean
STD testing is more accessible and accurate than its ever been. However, theres always the chance of getting a false negative or false positive result. What makes one test better than another? The answer is specificity and sensitivity. Specificity refers to tests that measure if people dont have the disease, whereas sensitivity measures which people do have the disease.
A false negative STD test result occurs when the test says that you dont have an STD, but you actually do have it. A false positive STD test result happens when the results are positive, but you dont have the disease. If you get a false negative, you most likely took the test too soon for accurate results.
You can see why the possibility of getting false negatives makes regular STD testing so important. Luckily, you can findSTD testing near you at one of the 2,500 Rapid STD Testing locations nationwide, which means you can check your status and get treatment as quickly as possible if you need it.
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How Can I Prevent Getting Chlamydia And Gonorrhea
Get some information about their sexual history. Get some information about any recently treated diseases. Have safe sex with right utilization of a condom. Utilize a condom each time you have vaginal, oral, or butt-centric sex. Get tried for explicitly sent diseases in the event that you or your partner are not mono
gamous
What Does The Test Measure
Gonorrhea testing detects evidence of infection with the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae. There are several types of gonorrhea tests:
- Gonorrhea nucleic acid amplification testing: NAAT testing detects the genetic material of the gonorrhea bacteria and is considered the optimal test for gonorrhea infection. This type of test can be performed on a urine sample or a swab taken from a site of potential infection.
- Gram stain: Gram stains look for certain types of cells that are characteristic of a gonorrhea infection under a microscope. This test is performed on urethral swabs and is used primarily in men who are experiencing urinary symptoms.
- Gonococcal culture: Gonococcal cultures attempt to grow the gonorrhea bacteria from swabs taken from sites of potential infection. Cultures are the only tests that detect the infections susceptibility to antibiotics. Doctors may order a gonococcal culture if they suspect that a patient has an antibiotic-resistant strain of gonorrhea.
- Rapid gonorrhea tests: While rapid testing for gonorrhea isnt common, several tests are being developed to allow health care professionals to give same-day gonorrhea testing results.
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What Does The Chlamydia Test Involve
The recommended tests for chlamydia are simple, painless and generally very reliable.
They involve sending a sample of cells to a laboratory for analysis. You don’t necessarily have to be examined by a doctor or nurse first and can often collect the sample yourself.
There are two main ways the sample can be collected:
- urinating into a container this should ideally be done at least 1 hour after you last urinated
The results will normally be available in 7 to 10 days. If there’s a high chance you have chlamydia for example, you have symptoms of the infection or your partner has been diagnosed with it and you’ve had unprotected sex with them you might start treatment before you get your results.
Read more about treating chlamydia.
Coping With Anxiety: My Std Test Came Back Negative But Im Still Worried
You may feel nervous or anxious when you have to undergo STD testing. Thats why the clinical staff at Rapid STD Testing takes the time to discuss mental health as it relates to sexual health, STD testing, and negative results.
First, if youre feeling down, depressed, anxious, lonely, or upset, there is help. You can call the National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine Monday through Friday from 10 am to 8 pm EST at 1-800-950-NAMI . You can also email .
The stigma surrounding mental health and sexual health makes these topics particularly challenging to discuss and can even cause feelings of anxiety or depression. If you feel those negative emotions, try to avoid looking at information from untrustworthy sources. Instead, schedule an appointment to speak with a doctor about your concerns.
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How Long Should I Wait Before Getting An Sti Test
The incubation period for chlamydia is 7 to 21 days. If youve had sex with someone whos positive, or if youve had a sexual encounter with a new partner, your results can be detected within the incubation period.
Its recommended to get tested 3 months after treatment to make sure youre in the clear.
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What Can Cause False Results
The incubation period of chlamydia is normally between one to five days so, getting tested too early after a high-risk sexual encounter, may show a false negative result. Also, a positive result may reflect an old infection, in that case, we can call it a false positive since the results do not indicate an active infection.
The incubation period of gonorrhea is normally between two to six days however it can range anywhere from one to fourteen days. So, getting tested before that time will not give accurate results. It is always recommended to get tested after the incubation period has passed to prevent a false negative test, otherwise you would be advised to take the test again.
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How Does Urethritis Progress
Occasionally, symptoms may clear without treatment but may take months to do so. If your condition has been caused by an infection, germs may still be present, even if the symptoms have gone.
Therefore, you are still likely to be infectious and can still pass on the infection even if symptoms go. One bacterium that commonly causes inflammation of the urethra in men can cause serious problems in women. It is important that you get tested, and treated if necessary, in order to prevent complications for yourself and others. You can read about possible complications in the separate leaflets on Gonorrhoea and Non-gonococcal Urethritis.
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How Soon Should I Test For Stds After Exposure
Use the table below to determine when you should get tested following exposure to an STD. The first column lists some of the most common types of STDs. The second column has the earliest time that tests offered by myLAB Box could be positive after a potential exposure. Some of the times listed are estimates due to limited data in other cases the window period is simply unknown. The third column tells you how long it could take following initial exposure to test positive for an STD.
For example, say you have been potentially exposed to genital herpes. If you look at the second column, it says you should take your first test 2 weeks from the date of exposure. This is the earliest that genital herpes will be detectable in your system. But according to the third column, it could take as long as 4 months, or 16 weeks, for genital herpes to become detectable in your system. In other words, the incubation period for genital herpes could be anywhere from 2 to 16 weeks following exposure.
This means if your results are negative when you get tested two weeks following exposure, you should get retested after 16 weeks. This way, you can confirm that it was not a false negative caused by testing before the STD was detectable.
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Suggestions For Practice Regarding The I Statement
Potential Preventable Burden. Chlamydial and gonococcal infections are often asymptomatic in men but may result in urethritis, epididymitis, and proctitis. Uncommon complications include reactive arthritis and disseminated gonococcal infection. Infections at extragenital sites are typically asymptomatic. Chlamydial and gonococcal infections may facilitate HIV transmission in men and women.1,4,5 Median prevalence rates among men who have sex with men who were tested in STD Surveillance Network clinics in 2012 were 16% for gonorrhea and 12% for chlamydia.1
Potential Harms. Potential harms of screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea include false-positive or false-negative results as well as labeling and anxiety associated with positive results.
Costs. According to the CDC, STIs in the United States are associated with an annual cost of almost $16 billion.8 Among nonviral STIs, chlamydia is the most costly, with total associated costs of $516.7 million . Gonococcal infections are associated with total costs of $162.1 million .9
In 2008, estimated direct lifetime costs per case of chlamydial infection were $30 in men and $364 in women. Similarly, gonococcal infections were associated with direct costs of $79 in men and $354 in women.9
Causes Of Faulty Results
If you get false results on an STD test, there could be a variety of reasons why. It depends on a few different factors:
- The specificity and sensitivity of the test
- The type of test: urine, swab, or blood test
- If the disease is common or rare
- Improper testing procedures
- How quickly you take the test
However, there are even more factors that can affect your results. You must take the right STD test to get the right results. For example, if you have anSTD that causes itching, like herpes, but you get an HIV test, youre not going to get accurate results.
For STD tests that require a urine sample, its important to wait as long as possible after urinating to take the test. If you have urinated within the last two hours before you give the specimen, it could skew the test results.
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Std Testing & Treatment
Sexually transmitted diseases are caused by infections that are passed from one person to another during sexual contact.
Many STDs have no symptoms, so people who are infected may not know they have an STD and unknowingly spread the infection to their partner. Lack of information, misconceptions and social stigma may keep people from getting tested.
Or call
What Should I Do If My Test Results Are Positive
Most at-home STI testing companies have healthcare professionals on staff who will call you to discuss next steps.
Gonorrhea cant go away on its own. So, the first step will involve going on antibiotics, which will either include an intramuscular injection or oral dose. The exact dosage and type of medication will vary based on how much the infection has progressed. Learn more about gonorrhea treatment here.
Next, they will help you figure out how to talk with your current partner, as well as determine how far back in your sexual history you should be alerting folks. .
Finally, 1 to 2 weeks later, your healthcare professional will have you get re-tested for gonorrhea. This is known as test-of-cure and is important because reinfection is super common. Experts also
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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.
How Long Until Chlamydia Causes Damage
Symptoms usually appear within one to three weeks after being infected and may be very mild. If not treated, chlamydia can lead to damage to the reproductive system. In women, chlamydial infection can spread to the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease , according to the CDC.
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How Soon After Unprotected Sex Can I Test For An Sti
Different STIs have different incubation periods, and therefore different testing windows. Below youll find the testing window periods for some of the most common STIs in the UK.
14 days after exposure
45 to 90 days after exposure
- HIV certain types can detect the virus sooner than others
12 weeks after exposure
Two of the more common STIs in the UK genital warts and genital herpes can only be diagnosed if youre having symptoms. If you develop any lumps, growths, sores or blisters around your genitals, you should go to the sexual health clinic to have a physical examination.
Key Question 2 How Effective Are Different Screening Strategies In Identifying Persons With Gonorrhea And Chlamydia
Summary
No studies compared the effectiveness of different screening strategies for gonorrhea or chlamydia in asymptomatic persons or the effectiveness of sampling from various anatomical sites, cotesting for concurrent STIs, or using different screening intervals. Several studies of screening in high-risk groups have been published, but they did not meet inclusion criteria because they enrolled both symptomatic and asymptomatic persons, lacked comparison groups, or did not report relevant outcomes. An observational study in the Netherlands evaluated a risk prediction tool to identify persons with chlamydia in high-risk populations. However, the tool was not an accurate predictor, and its applicability to practice in the United States is unclear. Prior reviews did not directly address the effectiveness of different screening strategies, but rather summarized risk factors associated with gonococcal and chlamydial infections., An observational study comparing nine sets of selective screening criteria for chlamydial infection among women attending family planning and STI clinics in the United States indicated that age alone had similar or better sensitivity and specificity as more extensive criteria. In this study, nearly 80 percent of cases were identified when testing 50 percent of the population and using an age cutoff of 22 years or younger.
Evidence
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Which Std Test Results Are More Likely To Be False Negative
Although chances of false negative STD test results are very rare, they do happen. In the case of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are the disease where the False negative test result is observed. You can be a carrier of chlamydia or gonorrhea and test negative, but only to discover later that it was actually positive.
Tips For Coping With Anxiety About Your Test Results
You should also remember that its not only inevitable but healthy to have different feelings and emotions about sexual health, STD testing, and your test results. When this happens, there are some techniques you can use to help you calm down and stay in the moment.
The first method you can use combines two techniques: deep breathing and positive affirmations. Use a simple one-two-three counting process and deep breaths while you say positive things out loud to yourself, like: I may feel worried about my health, but Ill get through this because Im strong.
You can also try visualizing yourself eliminating any unhealthy thoughts, feelings, or emotions. Let the negativity go, and then continue with deep breathing and positive affirmations.
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