How Accurate Are Urine Gonorrhea And Chlamydia Tests
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Urine Testing For Sexually Transmitted Infections
Several sexually transmitted infections can be detected using urine testing, which is becoming more and more available. Urine chlamydia tests and gonorrhea tests are a lot more pleasant than having to have your cervix or urethra swabbed and are quickly becoming standard practice.
It may be more difficult to find urine testing for other STIs, such as trichomoniasis or human papillomavirus , however. This article will discuss urine testing for STIs.
How Does A Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Test Work
Screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea can be done at home or at a clinic. A sample of urine is typically sent to a laboratory, which checks the urine for chlamydia and gonorrhea DNA. If you are using the Everlywell at-home test, youâll receive secure, online results just a few days after the lab receives your sample.
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Sample Collection Handling And Shipment Of The Specimen
Urine Testing Vs Bacterial Culture
Urine testing is currently primarily used to detect bacterial STDs. Chlamydia and gonorrhea urine tests are widely available. Trichomoniasis urine tests are also available, but they are less common.
The gold standard for diagnosing bacterial STDs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, used to be bacterial culture. That involved attempting to grow bacteria out of samples that were taken directly from the cervix or urethra.
These days, bacterial DNA testing is considered a better option. It works differently than bacterial culture. Instead of trying to grow bacteria, these tests just look for bacterial DNA. This can be done using a process called ligase chain reaction or with other DNA amplification techniques.
These types of testing are sensitive to even very small amounts of bacterial DNA. Even better, they do not require a live bacterial sample. As such, they can be run on urine samplesnot just urethral or cervical swabs.
For most people, the thought of a getting gonorrhea urine test or chlamydia urine test is a lot less intimidating than the thought of needing a physical exam.
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How Do You Test For Gonorrhea And Chlamydia
HealthLabs.com uses the FDA-approved / cleared nucleic acid amplification test . This test is recommended as the most accurate test for detecting both chlamydia and gonorrhea infections. Chlamydia trachomatis is the bacterium that causes chlamydia. Our NAAT chlamydia test looks for the presence of the bacteria in your urine. If it is found, this means that you have an active chlamydia infection. Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the bacterium that causes gonorrhea. Our NAAT gonorrhea test can detect the presence of this bacteria in your urine. If the bacteria is found, you have an active gonorrhea infection.
How Is Chlamydia Testing Done
STD Express Clinic uses the same NAAT to detect the presence of chlamydia infection. Once again, a urine sample of the patient is needed to conduct the test. The test aims to detect the presence of the bacterium Chlamydia Trachomatis. Testing takes only a couple of minutes. Just like the gonorrhea testing, this one too does not involve any swabbing, pricking, or fasting.
Just like gonorrhea, at STD Express Clinic, you could be treated for chlamydia on the same day at an additional cost of $50. If your chlamydia test results come out positive, it is advisable to get yourself checked for gonorrhea as well.
You may get in touch with the clinic doctor anytime and find out about the possible treatment options.
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Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Urine Test Random
A chlamydia and gonorrhea urine test, random detects chlamydia trachomatis and neisseria gonorrhoeae which is generally transmitted through sexual contact with an infected partner.
Also Known As: Chlamydia/Gonococcus, Amplicor PCR Chlamydia/Gonococcus, Aptima TMA Chlamydia/Gonococcus, LCR Chlamydia/Gonococcus, ProbeTec, SDA
Methodology:
No fasting required. Patient should not urinate one hour prior to collection.
Test Results:
2-3 days. May take longer based on weather, holiday or lab delays.
Also Known As: Chlamydia/Gonococcus, Amplicor PCR Chlamydia/Gonococcus, Aptima TMA Chlamydia/Gonococcus, LCR Chlamydia/Gonococcus, ProbeTec, SDA
Methodology:
Dual Kinetic Assay Target Capture Transcription-Mediated Amplification
Preparation:
No fasting required. Patient should not urinate one hour prior to collection.
Test Results:
2-3 days. May take longer based on weather, holiday or lab delays.
What Do The Gonorrhea And Chlamydia Test Results Mean
A positive test result means that Chlamydia or Gonorrhea bacteria are present and you have an infection. Sometimes you may have both types of infection. If you have a positive result, your health care provider will prescribe treatment with antibiotics.
State laws often require that health care providers report the names of people who have these infections to the health department. This allows the state health department to monitor for outbreaks and for infections that are becoming resistant to the usual antibiotics.
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How To Get Tested
Testing for gonorrhea is typically ordered by a doctor. In order to determine the most appropriate testing strategy, a doctor will ask about any signs or symptoms of gonorrhea and individual risk factors such as your sexual and health history.
Gonorrhea testing is often performed at hospitals and doctors offices, as well as clinics and community health programs.
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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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 The Symptoms Compare
Both men and women can get chlamydia or gonorrhea and never develop any symptoms.
With chlamydia, symptoms may not appear for a few weeks after youve contracted the infection. And with gonorrhea, women may never experience any symptoms at all or may only show mild symptoms, while men are more likely to have symptoms that are more severe.
A couple of the most telltale symptoms of these STIs overlap between the two , such as:
- burning when you pee
- abnormal discharge from the rectum
- pain in the rectum
- bleeding from the rectum
You may also develop symptoms that affect your throat if you engage in oral sex with someone who has one of these conditions. This can cause mouth and throat symptoms, including sore throat and a cough.
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During And After The Test
When you have a urine STI test, it is usually during a regular appointment. You will be asked to pee into a sample collection cup or tube. That tube or cup will be given to one of the medical staff.
Your urine sample will then be sent out to a lab or tested at the clinic. You can leave as soon as you are done giving the sample or when your appointment is finished.
What Do The Results Mean
Your results will be given as negative, also called normal, or positive, also called abnormal.
Negative/Normal: No gonorrhea bacteria were found. If you have certain symptoms, you may get additional STD tests to find out the cause.
Positive/Abnormal: You are infected with the gonorrhea bacteria. You will be treated with antibiotics to cure the infection. Be sure to take all the required doses. Antibiotic treatment should stop the infection, but some types of gonorrhea bacteria are becoming resistant to certain antibiotics. If your symptoms don’t improve after treatment, your health care provider may order a “susceptibility test.” A susceptibility test is used to help determine which antibiotic will be most effective in treating your infection.
Regardless of your treatment, be sure to let your sex partner know if you have tested positive for gonorrhea. That way, he or she can be tested and treated promptly.
If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider.
Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
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What Are Chlamydia And Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea and chlamydia are common sexually transmitted diseases . Both are typically asymptomatic , caused by bacteria, and have high prevalence across the United States. Chlamydia is one of the most widespread STDs in the United States, with the CDC estimating that 3 million cases occur annually. Rates of gonorrhea have been increasing sharply over the past 5 years, and certain strains are becoming antibiotic resistant.
Can You Prevent Chlamydia And Gonorrhea
As both infections are so common that almost anyone who is sexually active is at risk of contracting it, the only surefire way to prevent chlamydia and gonorrhea is by remaining abstinent.
In saying that, there are a number of steps that can be taken in order to reduce your risk, including:
- Use protection during sexual contact
- Regularly screen your sexual health
- Dont share sex toys
If you have tested positive for chlamydia or gonorrhea, dont forget to abstain from sexual activity until you have completed treatment and all symptoms are gone.
Regular sexual health screening is one of the best steps you can take towards knowing more about your sexual health. This can be done with your doctor or from the comfort of home with an at-home lab test.
LetsGetCheckeds range of STI Tests detect some of the most common infections this includes our Simple 2 Test which tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Online results will be available within 2-5 days and our dedicated medical team will be available every step of the way to answer any questions you may have regarding the process, results, or treatment.
You should consider taking a test if:
- You become sexually active
- You have had unprotected sex
- You are experiencing symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection
- You are entering into a new sexual relationship
- You have received a notification from a previous partner that they are infected
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When Should I Get Chlamydia Testing
As most people infected with chlamydia do not experience symptoms, doctors rely on screening to detect most cases of chlamydia. Screening guidelines vary based on many factors, including your anatomy, health, and sexual practices. Regular screening for chlamydia is recommended for several groups:
- Women and anyone with a vagina: Those who are sexually active and under the age of 25 should be tested for chlamydia annually, while those aged 25 and older should be screened regularly only if they are at an increased risk of contracting chlamydia.
- Pregnant people: Chlamydia testing is recommended for all pregnant people under age 25 and for those 25 and over with an increased risk of this infection. In addition to initial testing, experts recommend retesting during the third trimester for people with an elevated risk of infection. For pregnant patients diagnosed with chlamydia, follow-up testing is advised four weeks after completing treatment and again within three months.
Certain factors increase the risk of contracting chlamydia and may affect how often a person may be screened. Risk factors include having:
- Sex with a new partner
- More than one sexual partner or a partner who has sex with multiple people
- A sex partner diagnosed with an STD
Testing for chlamydia is more frequently conducted in asymptomatic people in settings where infection rates are high, which often includes correctional facilities, adolescent health clinics, the military, and sexual health clinics.
How We Chose The Best At
To narrow down at-home gonorrhea tests for this list, we dove into patient feedback, cost, result accuracy, result timeline, and ease of use.
Next, we broke them down into the categories like best on a budget and most comprehensive so that you can find the best at-home gonorrhea test for you.
As you scroll down, youll notice that each of the four at-home gonorrhea tests below also test for chlamydia. Thats because both bacterial infections are often asymptomatic, but present with similar symptoms, when symptoms are present.
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What Is Gonorrhea Exactly
Gonorrhea, also known as the clap or the drip, is a bacterial sexuality transmitted infection caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium. It can target moist areas of the body, including the genitals, rectum, throat, uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and eyes.
Like other STIs, gonorrhea doesnt appear *poof* out of nowhere. Instead, its transmitted when a person without gonorrhea comes into contact with the site where a person who is gonorrhea-positive has gonorrhea.
If, for example, person A has throat gonorrhea and goes down on person B, the infection could be transmitted to person Bs genitals.
Likewise, if partner A has genital gonorrhea and scissors with person B, the infection could be transmitted to person Bs genitals.
Symptoms usually appear between 2 and 14 days after exposure, when they do appear which is 50 percent of the time in women and around 90 percent of the time in men. Everyone else is asymptomatic.
When someone *does* experience symptoms, they usually include:
- burning or pain while urinating
- yellow, white, or green discharge
- itching, soreness, or skin irritation
- abdominal, pelvic, rectal, or genital pain
Regardless of whether or not someone has symptoms, the virus can still be transmitted.
And not only that: The infection can progress. If untreated, gonorrhea can cause
In short: Getting tested is imperative.
Think youre a good candidate for an at-home gonorrhea test? Here, find the best.
What Are The Symptoms Of Chlamydia
Women
- Mild pain or discomfort when you urinate
- Menstrual periods that are heavier than usual
- More painful periods
- Spotting between periods or after sex
Often there are no symptoms, especially early in the infection.
Men
Often there are no symptoms. If your urethra is infected, you may have:
- Discomfort when you urinate
Infection of the epididymis causes pain in the testicle.
Possible symptoms of prostate infection are:
- Discharge from the urethra
- Discomfort when or after you urinate
- Pain during or after intercourse
- Lower back pain
Sometimes infections of the prostate or epididymis are sudden and severe. These infections may cause fever or other symptoms of illness. They require prompt medical attention.
- Pain when you have a bowel movement
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