Collect a urine sample using the provided cup and transfer it into the sample vial. Mail this to our lab using the prepaid envelope. At the laboratory, we use a highly-sensitive molecular testing technique known as nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT), that detects the presence of bacterial DNA. NAAT tests are the most sensitive and can be performed rapidly.

If you receive a positive result, contact a healthcare professional immediately to start treatment. Follow your healthcare provider’s treatment recommendations and inform your sexual partners so they can also get tested and treated if necessary.

These infections are commonly treated with antibiotics. The specific type and length of antibiotic treatment can vary depending on the individual and the severity of the infection. It’s important for both the infected individual and their sexual partners to undergo treatment to prevent re-infection, and they should abstain from sexual activity until the infection is fully resolved.

Early diagnosis and consistent adherence to treatment are essential for effectively managing these infections. Please note that these are general guidelines, and the specific treatment for an individual will depend on their overall health, the stage of the disease, and other factors. Therefore, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider for personalized advice. Also, remember to complete the entire course of prescribed medication, even if symptoms improve before finishing the treatment.

To reduce your risk of contracting these STDs, consider the following preventive measures:

1. Practice Abstinence: The surest way to prevent these STDs is to abstain from or delay sexual activity.
2. Get Regularly Tested: Regular testing is especially important if you have multiple partners or engage in high-risk behaviors. Early detection through tests can lead to timely treatment.
3. Use Condoms Correctly: Condoms are effective in reducing the risk of STD transmission when used properly during every sexual encounter.
4. Limit Sexual Partners: Reducing the number of sexual partners can decrease your risk of exposure to STDs.
5. Mutual Monogamy: Being in a mutually monogamous relationship where both partners have been tested and know their STD status can significantly reduce risk.
6. Avoid Sharing Needles: Never share needles, syringes, or other injecting equipment.

In the United States, chlamydia and gonorrhea are two of the most common sexually transmitted infections. As of the latest CDC data, there were 1.6 million reported chlamydia cases in 2021, marking a 4.1% increase from 2020. Gonorrhea cases surpassed 700,000 in 2021, which is a 28% increase since 2017.

A negative result does not completely exclude the possibility of an infection. False-negative results might occur if the test is taken too early after exposure (aka during the “window period”), as the organism levels might be below the sensitivity of the assay. Improper specimen collection can impact the accuracy of the test. Concurrent antibiotic therapy might suppress the detectable level of the causative organism, leading to a false-negative. The presence of inhibitors in the test sample can also interfere with the accurate detection of the organism.

False-positive results, although rare, are still possible. They may occur shortly after successful antimicrobial therapy for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis, as the test might still detect remnants of the organisms