[Question #11963] How Soon to Test

11 months ago

I had an encounter on a Saturday night both oral and vaginal unprotected. Took an at home urine test for chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Trichomoniasis on Monday morning. Mailed to the lab and results came back negative within 2 days. I was nervous this was to soon so on Wednesday I went to and independent lab locally and had another urine and blood test. All test came back 2 days later and all negative again. No real symptoms other than my anxiety getting the best of me. Did I test to soon? Should I trust the negative results ? Should I re test in another week?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

11 months ago

Welcome to the Forum. Thanks for your questions. I’ll be glad to comment. The optimal time to test depends on what your testing your. Your initial tests on Monday were a little too early to be entirely confident in the results.

Tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia are reliable and conclusive any time more than 3 days after a possible exposure. On the other hand tests for syphilis or HIV are close to reliable at 30 days and entirely reliable more than 6 weeks are exposure.

I should add that your overall risk of any STI from a single encounter is low. Most people do not have STI and even when they do, most single exposes to infected,partners do not lead to infection.

I anticipate that your tests will remain negative.

I hope this information and perspective is helpful. EWH

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11 months ago

Thank you for your response. The 2nd test I took was at 3 days and it was also negative so based on your response I can trust that urine test to be accurate ?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

11 months ago

You can believe your 2nd test. EWH---