I’ve had a one night stand. Which STD test is right for me?

Published March 7 2013 inSexual Health
stopwatch1 minutes read

The first thing is that you should not sleep with your partner until you get tested without using protection (but see our suggestions for just touching and oral sex in this series). We have an incubation or window period for all our tests – this is the time that needs to pass before any STI or STD will be detectable, but you can still transmit any infection in this time.

 

In this situation, when you want results as quickly as possible we would recommend our screens that can detect infections with the shortest incubation period. These are:

Early Detection Screen (at 10 days after any incident) for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C – results in 3 days from when the sample is received in the laboratory.

Peace of Mind (at 14 days after any incident) for Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis – results in 2 days from when the sample is received in the laboratory.

Comfort Screen (a urine only STD screen at 14 days after any incident) for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Herpes I and II (current infection), mycoplasma, ureaplasma, trichomonas and gardnerella – results in 5 days from when the sample is received in the laboratory.

Early Platinum Screen (at 14 days after any incident): Early Detection (above), Comfort (above) and syphilis – results in 5 days from when the sample is received in the laboratory.

Everyone’s circumstances are different, and it is your responsibility to choose the tests that are right for you depending on your sexual activity and what you know about your partner. If you are unsure then Better2Know recommends a Full STD screen. Once is enough to catch an STD, STI or HIV.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mike has been delivering world class Sexually Transmitted Infections testing services to Better2Know patients around the world for over ten years. He has written extensively on the subject, including numerous blogs for Better2Know which are designed to demystify the complex intricacies of sexual health testing. Mike wants to help his readers understand the risks they take in their daily sexual lives and provide the information they need when choosing an STI or STD test in a clear, concise and understandable way. Mike is particularly interested in writing about viral STIs like HIV and Hepatitis, as these infections can have a devastating impact on people’s lives if they are not diagnosed quickly. Only through being well informed can you best care for your health, and Mike is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience to help you and all his readers lead a happier, healthier life.