A chlamydia test is most helpful when it is performed within six weeks of the suspected onset of infection. If this is not possible, your health care provider will perform a culture and molecular probe test to confirm the diagnosis. Newer tests, also known as NAATs (short for non-anxiety, anti-tuberculosis, and anti-chlamydia testing) are easier to take and more accurate than those that come from urine. Your health care provider may explain what other options are available (urea or swab test, for instance). If you reside in Alaska, Maryland, or Washington, D.C, you can receive a free at home chlamydia test within days. These self-referral services are offered by many local STD clinics, so find out which clinics offer them. Check out Canada Home Testing for all your STD Test needs.
Chlamydia testing is recommended for all adults who engage in sexual activity with multiple partners. This means men who have sex with new partners, men who change genders, and women who are sexually active with multiple partners. Men can also get tested if they have intercourse with a new partner whose current partner has a positive chlamydia test result. Women can be tested for gonorrhea, genital warts, and Trichomonas, but they cannot be tested for chlamydia unless they have multiple partners. This is why testing is best done soon after being tested, so the condition can be treated before it causes symptoms.
Some individuals choose to get their self-collected swab tested for chlamydia instead of visiting a clinic. There are multiple reasons why someone might choose to self-collect their own swab. For one, they may feel comfortable enough to collect their own swab at home. For another, they may not have access to a health clinic or an STD testing center. For others, however, privacy and confidentiality issues, especially if they fear they will disclose their condition to a new partner.
Some healthcare professionals offer a pre-screening clinic where people can receive their chlamydia test results in the privacy of their own home. This is the most common way people get their test results. However, because this method lacks the privacy and confidentiality of a home visit, many people do not attend these clinics. For this reason, a good alternative exists. Some STD healthcare professionals offer STD clinics where patients can self-contamine with a urine test for chlamydia and receive their results at the same time. These STD clinics are typically located at community colleges, gynecology offices, and other health care facilities.
If you have one or more symptoms of chlamydia but are still having no sexual activity with a partner, you should be tested for it every year. This is the recommended minimum age for getting tested. The only exception to this recommendation is if you are currently pregnant or are going to become pregnant. In these cases, you should wait until you have given birth to ensure that your infection has cleared or been resolved. Also, if you are tested negative and you are still sexually active, you should abstain from sex until you have received the appropriate medical testing.
Chlamydia testing is an essential first step in becoming an informed consumer about the disease. Your doctor can tell you whether or not you are at risk for contracting the disease, but you should also be made aware of the various STD tests that are available to you. Most of these tests are simple and inexpensive, which makes them a great option for most people. Unfortunately, there are some people who still rely on home videos or text messages as ways of getting tested for chlamydia bacteria. If you are not comfortable with giving your saliva or vaginal fluid as a sample, there are also kits for testing the indicators of infection that can be purchased instead.
