STD PANEL

STD PANEL

For sexually active people, especially those with multiple sexual partners, chances are that you’ve probably thought about getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases at some point. Questions like why should you get an STD check up, who should visit an STD testing clinic, what type of test you should go for, and what’s included in an STD panel.

There are a plethora of questions as regards STDs, which is why we have come up with frequently asked questionsand their answers on STD test forssss common STDs.

Chlamydia

Do I need blood, swabs or urine to test for Chlamydia?

Thanks to the significant improvement in testing technology, most STD testing clinic can easily detect the presence of Chlamydia in the body without the use of swabs. More so, commercial STD blood tests are only employed for other sexually transmitted diseases, which will be explained as you read on.

What do I need to do to prepare for the test?

It is important to abstain from urinating, for at least an hour before your test. Asides from this, there is no other preparation required.

What time is ideal to test for Chlamydia?

Possible exposure to Chlamydia can be scary, which is why the best time for a Chlamydia test is a minimum of 1-5 days after exposure. Individuals that have been diagnosed and treated for Chlamydia in the past should get tested again in 3-4 weeks after treatment, to ensure they arefree from the infection.

What will the test result say?

The test result can either be positive or negativeNevertheless, if your test results are negative, this connotes that there are no signs of Chlamydia in your system while a positive result depicts the presence of Chlamydia. Regardless, early test for Chlamydia can also give a misleading result; this is why we often advise you wait for at least 24 hours before you get tested.

Can Chlamydia be cured?

Yes, Chlamydia is curable with the use of antibiotics. It is important you schedule an appointment with anSTD testing clinic, where antibiotics will be prescribed to speed up your treatment process.

Whoneeds Chlamydia testing?

All men and women are likely to contract Chlamydia. Research suggests that over 1.5 million people in the United Kingdom are infected by Chlamydia yearly. This is because the disease is easily transmitted, and when infected, it hardly depicts any symptom.

Therefore, the best way to ensure that you are sexually and medically safe is to get tested.  Sexually active women are often advised to carry out a routine STD check up.If you have also had unprotected sex with a partner whose status you are not certain about, you should consider Chlamydia test.

Gonorrhoea

Does gonorrhoea test require blood or urine sample?

Gonorrhoea test will usually involve a urine test. When you get to an STD testing clinic, the lab attendant will collect a sample of your urine, which will be sent off to a lab.

Do I need any preparation for the test?

There is usually no serious preparation. However, avoid urinating for an hour before going to an STD clinic.

When is the right time to test for gonorrhoea?

There is no specific incubation time for the test. However, we advise you to wait for at least 2 to 7 days after exposure to the disease; this allows forthe full development of the bacterium, and easy and accurate detection. If you have been treated for gonorrhoea, we also recommend you go for STD check up to ensure you are free.

What will the test result say?

A negative test result depicts the absence of gonorrhoea, while a positive test result shows the presence of the bacteria in your body.Early diagnosis may also result in a misleading result. Therefore, it is recommended that you get tested at least 2 to 7 days after exposure.

Can gonorrhoea be treated?

Just like Chlamydia, gonorrhoea can be treated. Your private health care provider will proffer possible treatments and medications to ensure you are safe.

Who needs gonorrhoea testing?

Generally, if you are sexually active, you should get tested for gonorrhoea immediately. When gonorrhoea is left untreated, it can lead to serious medical and health conditions. You should also get tested when you notice the following symptoms: discharge, pain during unusual urinationand sores in the genitals etc.

Hepatitis A

Does hepatitis a test need a blood or a urine sample?

Your blood sample will be required for the test. This may be drawn by a lab technician or by your doctor.

What do I need in preparing for the test?

You don’t need any serious preparation before visiting an STD clinic for your test.

When is the best time to test for hepatitis A?

We recommend you wait for at least 2-7 weeks to get tested since the hepatitis A virus has a general incubation period of about 28 days.

How do I contract hepatitis A?

HAV can be easily transmitted through anal-oral contact during sex, or via faecal to mouth contact.

What will the test result say?

Your test result can either be negative or positive. If positive, hepatitis A antibodies were found in your body, while the reverse is the case for a negative result.

Can the infection be cured?

If you have been diagnosed with an HAV infection, your doctors will need to monitor your liver functions to ensure there are no further complications within your system. However, there is usually no cure for this infection. We recommend you practice good personal hygiene and get timely medications if you at risk for the infection.

Who needs hepatitis A testing?

Almost anyone can get hepatitis A since there are no direct risk factors associated with the virus.

Hepatitis B

What type of sample is needed for a hepatitis B test?

A small blood sample will be drawn by your doctor or a lab technician.

Do I need any preparation for the test?

Hepatitis B does not require any preparation before you are tested.

When is the right time to test for hepatitis B

Although the infection can be easily detected 3 weeks after infections, we still recommend you for at least 6 weeks, to ensure your results are accurate

Can the infection be cured or treated?

Although, there is no cure for the virus, more than 80% of patients diagnosed with the virus have been cleared from the virus without the need for medication. Regardless, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor if you have a chronic infection.

Who needs hepatitis B testing?

Both men and women are highly susceptible to contracting the virus. Testing for the infection is often recommended for those who are at a higher risk of coming in contact with an HBV patient.

Hepatitis c

What is hepatitis c?

Hepatitis c is one of the most common chronic blood-borneinfections and is caused by the hepatitis C virus.The virus is spread through contact with contaminated blood during intravenous blood use, sharing of needles or in a health care setting.

Howis the virus transmitted?

The virus is majorly transmitted through contact with contaminated blood, mostly through intravenous drug use or exposure in health care settings. It can also be spread through sexual intercourse, organ transplants and blood transfusions.

Whenshould I get tested?

The virus can easily be detected at least 8-9 weeks after exposure. It is safer to give your body enough time to develop antibodies to the hepatitis C virus, before taking the test. This will avoid misleading result at every possible chance.

Do I need any preparation?

Most STD clinic in Halsey Streetneeds only a small amount of blood to get tested. Thus, no form of preparation is required.

Herpes 1

What is herpes 1?

Herpes 1, Commonly referred to as herpes labialis, is an infection of the lips, mouth or gums, caused by the herpes simplex virus 1(HSV 1). When infection occurs, it results in small painful blisters, commonly referred to as cold sores or fever sores.

How is herpes transmitted?

The virus can be easily transmitted through kissing or close contact with an infected person. The virus can also be contacted by sharing razors, towels, and other personal items with an infected person.

When can I get tested for herpes 1 after exposure?

We recommend testing for herpesvirus 4-6 weeks after exposure. This is because the antibodies can take as far as 2 to 6 weeks to develop.

What is needed to prepare for the test?

No preparation of any form is required for herpes 1 test.

Herpes 2

What is herpes 2?

Herpes 2, also referred to as genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease, caused by the herpes simplex virus. Herpes 2 can be caused by both the herpes simplex virus-1 and the herpes simplex virus-2.Although most genital herpes is commonly caused by HSV 2.

How is herpes 2 transmitted?

The vast of all genital herpes is commonly transmitted through sexual intercourse. Having oral, vagina or anal sex with an infected patient can easily expose you to the infection. It is also important to note that most people infected with genital herpes may not usually show any signs and symptoms, and when symptoms do occur, they are often mild and barely noticeable.

When should I get tested after exposure?

It is recommended that you get tested for herpes 2 virus, 4-6 weeks after exposure.

Do I need any form of preparation for a herpes 2 virus?

Just like some of the above listed sexually transmitted diseases, you do not need any form of preparation. All that is required of you is a small blood sample which will be dawn by your lab technician or doctor.

HIV (human immune deficiency syndrome)

What is HIV?

The human immune deficiency syndrome targets and destroys specific cells of the immune system called T cells. This makes it hard for the body to fight common diseases. Unlike other sexually transmitted diseases, HIV is very difficult to get rid of. In other words, once you have the infection, you have the disease for life

How is the virus transmitted?

 HIV is majorly transmitted through, semen, blood, pre-seminal fluid and rectal fluids. Having unprotected sex with an infected patient can increase your risk of contracting the virus.

When should I get tested after infection?

If you are taking the HIV antibody test, wait at least 25 to 60 days for the antibodies to develop in the body before taking the HIV antibody test. While for patients taking the RNA test, you can get tested in 9-11 days after exposure.

Do I need any form of preparation?

No form of preparation is required for both HIV antibody test and RNA test.

Syphilis

What is syphilis?

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease usually caused by a bacterium. Syphilis can result in long term complications, or even lead to death if adequate care is not taken. 

How is syphilis transmitted?

The infection is transmitted through direct contact with a syphilis sore, which is referred to as chancre, on the body of an infected person. The chancres are usually found in the external genitals, vagina and anus of an infected patient. One easy way to contract syphilis is by having unprotected sex with an infected patient.

When should I get tested for syphilis after exposure?

Weadvise you get tested 3-6 weeks after possible exposure.

What do I need to do to prepare for a syphilis test?

Usually, most STD testing clinic centres will run an RPR (rapid plasma reagin) test to detect for the presence of syphilis in the body, and this does not require any form of preparation.

When is the best time for STD check up?

Most sexually transmitted disease are silent and do not depict any signs or symptoms. You can have a sexually transmitted infection for long without knowing, while you pass it on to others. However, the best time to get tested for a sexually transmitted disease is now, to avoid any health complications.