From reading previous posts I Understand this a very low risk activity for acquisition of ghonorrea and chlamydia. However, for my peace of mind I decided to take a throat swab at a private clinic called Randox Health in the UK. The results came back negative.

However, at the time of the test I gagged a couple of times, and it felt that the test taker who took the sample may have touched the swab on my tounge. I tilted my head back during the test, no tounge compressor was used and I could feel pressure on my tounge.

I have two questions:

1) if the swab had touched my tounge, would that invalidate any results or increase the chance of a false negative. I have read and know from my experience of throat swabs that this is important. I’m keen not to retake a test based on the forums advise of avoiding retesting, but at the same time would like to have reassurance in my negative tests. I appreciate the forum takes a balanced view to risk but let’s say I did have an infection. Would it have been missed based on the above info?

2) I’ve noticed having done this test a couple of times before through the NHS or other private (and reputable clinics) that each place has a different swab collection method. Some say, just rub the back of the throat, others say just the tonsils, side of the throat and the uvula. Why is there a variance when they probably use the same technology.? And what is your recommended swab collection methodology that you advise?

Thank you.

Correct that you describe an exposure with little or no risk for gonorrhea and probably zero for chlamydia. In any case, you are way over obsessed with minor differences in specimen collection methods which undoubtedly make no different in the reliability of the test results.

1) I don't know how or why you have the impression that the details of throat swab testing -- like swab contact went your tongue -- might make a difference in test performance or reliability of the results. I am unaware of any such problem. Given the combination of low risk to begin with plus no problem with test reliability, you can be completely confident you were not infected.

2) There are no data and no rigid standard procedures on throat swab collection. The details you describe are not known to make any difference in test reliability or performance. "Why is there a variance...?" Probably just because of minor personal beliefs of those who write various clinics' guidelines or how they train their staff. Certainly there is no science behind such differences. Nobody has the time, interest, or sees a need for research on such issues.

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

On question 1, as you asked - the reason I had thought this was that, in my experience, most throat swab tests advise to avoid touching the tounge or teeth. I made an assumption that if that happened it would invalidate the test. Just did a quick google for info from somewhere reputable and this is what it says. It’s from a US government site: https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/health/documents/topics/documents/programs/haip-as/How%20to%20Collect%20a%20Throat%20Swab%20for%20Culture.pdf

Grateful for a reply on that, and reassured to take your original reply, but wanted to respond to your question as to where I got my impression from.

Thanks!