[Question #7908] For Future Reference: Earliest Testing Window by Each STI

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50 months ago
Thank you Doctors for all the help so far. I’ve used the search function and haven’t really been able to find an aggregated answer/list for the following question(s):

How soon after an exposure/possible exposure could someone test for the following and have the results be deemed basically conclusive?

-Gonorrhea 
-Chlamydia 
-Trich
-Herpes
-HIV (assuming early detection method)
-Syphilis
-Hepatitis (each of them)
-Mycoplasma Genitalium
(+ any others worth noting?)

I would also be curious to know (ballpark) if you could attach a percentage to each above by how often they present symptoms if infected (ex: Chlamydia 60% infections present symptoms vs. 40% without symptoms)

Thanks!
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
50 months ago
This forum is not designed to provide encyclopedic information about STIs, but to answer particular concerns about such things as exposure, symptoms, and so on. The answers to these questions are more complex than you may have realized, and depend on various circumstances like anatomic sites exposed and potentially infected (often with different answers about tine to symptoms for each site). In addition, for some of these, different types of tests are available, and not all labs use the same ones -- and it isn't practical to give replies for each of the possible kinds of tests. And for some there has been no research and no available data, only my educated estimates. For these reasons, my replies are brief and based on the assumption of testing in persons with no symptoms, and testing with the most senstive tests available (which usually means recently developed tests).

Gonorrhea, NAAT (DNA) testing:  2-3 days

Chlamydia, NAAT: probably 4-5 days

Trichomonas, NAAT:  No studies have been done; I would estimate 7-10 days, but it could be shorter or much longer

Herpes, IgG blood test:  30% of people with HSV1 never develop positive results. For those who do, and for HSV2, 3 months

HIV:  "Early detection", which usually means RNA testing by PCR:  2-3 weeks, but this is not 100% proof against infection. For 100% conclusive results, AgAb (4th generation) blood test:  6 weeks

Hepatitis A and C almost never sexually transmitted, but probably 6 weeks. Hep B, 6 weeks

Syphilis:  6 weeks is a reasonable estimate, but sometimes longer

M genitalium:  No research done, can't even guess. Testing is not recommended except in selected circumstances; should not be done as a routine test in anyone without symptoms

As implied above, you are welcome to return to the forum in event of specific exposures or symptoms that concern you. However, repeated questions are not permitted, especially when anxiety driven (which is how I would characterize all of yours); so this should be the last. Thanks for your understanding.

HHH, MD
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