Do I need a Full STI Screen?
A person's sexual health is a vital part of their overall health and wellbeing.
If you are sexually active, especially of you have had sex without barrier protection, you have had more than one partner or you have a new partner then it is a good idea to get tested.
The good news is that it has never been easier or more convenient to get a full STI screening. It is possible to buy a test kit online, which will test for a variety of the most common STIs. There is no need to worry about your sexual health or sacrifice your valuable time going to a GUM clinic to be tested; everything can be organized online and completed by post.
What does the Full STI Screen test for?
The basic Full STI Screening Test will detect the presence of
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhoea
- Ureaplasma Urealyticum/Parvum
- Mycoplasma Genitalium
- Gardnerella Vaginalis
- Trichomonas
- Herpes 1 and 2
The extended full screen also covers:
- HIV
- Syphilis
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
When should I be tested?
Having unprotected sex puts you at risk of contracting a range of STIs. We recommend that you wait for two weeks after the point of risk before having a basic full STI screen as some infections can take this long to show up. You can, of course, get tested before this. If, however, your results come back negative we would advise you to have another test after the two-week time frame to confirm that you do not have any STIs.
The extended version of the full screen involves a small blood sample. This test can detect HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. These infections have a range of incubation periods but HIV can be detected as early as day 10 using this test.
How will my test be delivered to me?
- If you order your full STI screening test by 5 pm, we will send it out to you on the same day.
- You can choose your full STI screen to be sent to you by either first class mail or by Royal Mail Special Delivery, which is guaranteed for before 1.00 pm the following day.
What will the test detect?
The basic full STI screen will detect the presence of Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Ureaplasma Urealyticum and Parvum, Mycoplasma Genitalium, Gardnerella and Trichomonas. The test will also detect the presence of Herpes if it is in the shedding phase.
The extended screen also covers HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.
How does the test work?
We will send you out a Full STI test kit. Men are required to provide a urine sample and women can provide either a urine sample or a vaginal swab.
If you are having the extended screen then we require a tiny sample of blood from a finger prick.
How do I get my results back?
We will post your results onto a secure part of our website to which only you will have access using a secure log in. This guarantees you complete confidentiality and peace of mind. The results are normally available for you to view within 36 hours of your sample arriving at our lab. The extended screen allows for the blood sample results to be available within 4 hours.
What happens if my test comes back positive?
If your test comes back positive for any STI you will need to be treated. We will send you out the treatment that you need. We will arrange for this to be sent to you by overnight delivery from our partner pharmacy, which is licensed in the UK.
If you test positive for any of the blood-borne infections, we will not be able to provide treatment as these infections are more complex in terms of their management. Syphilis only requires antibiotics but this is administered by way of an intramuscular injection.
Are the results reliable?
Your results will be extremely reliable. The laboratory that we use to process our results is The Doctor's Laboratory (TDL) in London. The Doctor's Laboratory is used by both private practices and by the NHS for some specialist services. TDL is one of the most highly respected pathology laboratories in the UK and is fully accredited.