STI & HIV Testing

Testing for STIs is important when you have a new sexual partner, are noticing symptoms or think you have been exposed to an STI.

If you have had sex without a condom you may be considering having a full STI test.

We recommend everyone sexually active tests for gonorrhoea, chlamydia, HIV and syphilis and you will be offered tests for all four.

If you are worried though about a particular incident, and you have no symptoms, you should normally wait 14 days before getting tested or at least 28 days to be tested for HIV and syphilis so that there is time for the infection to show up on the test.

Additional tests for Hepatitis B & C may also be carried out, depending on the information you give us.

You don’t need to have symptoms to ask for testing.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW

STIs take time to show up in tests, even if you don’t have symptoms. This means testing too early may give the wrong results.

Chlamydia and gonorrhoea: show up 2 weeks after sex
HIV: accurate 45 days (6 weeks) after sex
Syphilis: can take up to 12 weeks to appear

Please take this into account when planning your testing.

If you’re unsure, speak to us – we’ll help you get the right test at the right time.

HOW WE TEST

Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are tested using swabs or a urine sample. If you don’t have symptoms, you can usually take the swab yourself. If you do have symptoms, we’ll normally carry out an examination first and discuss the best way to take the sample.

We’ll also take a blood test for HIV and syphilis, along with any other tests that may be needed based on your symptoms or the information you provide.

WHERE TO GET TESTED

STI testing can be done at: