ChEx. ChEx is an express chlamydia screening for heterosexual men and women. The test is performed by taking a urine sample (from men) or a vaginal swab (from women). ChEx does not include blood tests, throat or rectal tests.
Men will usually be asked to provide a urine sample, while women will usually be asked to either swab inside their vagina or provide a urine sample. The results will normally be available in 7 to 10 days.
Once diagnosed, Chlamydia can be treated easily with a one-off antibiotic pill. However, until now, male rapid tests for Chlamydia have been relatively inaccurate and involved urethral swabs, which can cause discomfort.
This test is done with a sample of cells from the urethra in men or the vagina in women. For men, the healthcare provider will gently insert a swab 3 to 4 centimeters into the urethra. The provider will turn it once to collect cells.
Testing For STIs
A swab of your throat. Urine testing. An anal swab. A urethral (penis or front hole) swab.
STD testing is quick, easy, and it usually doesn't hurt. There's not a single test for all STDs — each STD has its own test. Your doctor can help you figure out which tests you need.
What's the most common STD in men? Chlamydia is also the most common STD that affects men. About 578,000 cases were reported in 2017 in just males. Chlamydia doesn't always cause noticeable symptoms, either, especially in men.
In some cases, a person may also have a false-negative test result. This can happen if they test too soon after exposure. For example, if a person tests the day after sex with a partner who has chlamydia, the bacteria may not have had the chance to grow to detectable levels.
For chlamydia testing in men, the sensitivity and specificity were 88% and 99%. respectively, for urine samples compared to urethral samples. For gonorrhea testing in women, the sensitivity and specificity were 79% and 99%, respectively, for urine samples compared to cervical samples.
The NAATs are considered the most sensitive tests available. Urine is the specimen of choice when using NAAT assays because the sensitivity and specificity are not usually significantly different between urine and urethral swabs; urines may even be higher sensitivity.
It usually takes about 24 hours to get results. Although they aren't used as often, rapid chlamydia tests can produce results in about an hour and a half. If using cell culture it may take about a week to get results.
Symptoms in the penis
Symptoms of chlamydia may affect the penis within 1–3 weeks of the person coming into contact with the infection. In some cases, though, these symptoms can take months to appear. Symptoms of chlamydia in the penis may include: white, cloudy, or watery discharge from the tip of the penis.
Chlamydia Test Results
The results of a chlamydia test are frequently available within 24 hours after the test sample is collected. For rapid chlamydia testing, results can be returned within 30 to 90 minutes. Chlamydia cell cultures take several additional days because the bacteria has to be grown in the laboratory.
Yes, you can – two types of services can offer free chlamydia testing, your GP and a sexual health clinic (also known as a genitourinary medicine or GUM clinic). Getting tested is a simple process. Who is eligible? – any UK resident can get tested for chlamydia on the NHS for free.
Chlamydia can be tested for in urine or with a swab or the site where the infection might be. The urine test is a small urine sample and will identify most Chlamydia infections in men and women's from vaginal sexual intercourse.
The majority of chlamydial infections in men do not cause any symptoms. You can get chlamydia in the urethra (inside the penis), rectum, or throat. You may not notice any symptoms.
Urine tests take about 2 to 5 days to show a positive (you have it) or negative (you don't have it) result. Blood tests can come back with results in a few minutes if the blood is analyzed on site. But they can take a week or more if sent to an off-site lab.
In as little as one day, chlamydia may show up in your system, but testing should be done at least five days after exposure. It is recommended you retest two weeks after treatment to make sure you are free of the infection.
Can chlamydia go away without treatment? It can, but it can take a long time. If you delay seeking treatment you risk the infection causing long-term damage and you may still be able to pass the infection on to someone else.
As most people do not have symptoms, it is possible the person (who tested positive) could have had chlamydia/gonorrhea from a previous relationship, and has not passed it to their partner yet. It is never 100% that you will pass an STI when you have sex.
Without medical intervention, a chlamydia infection can persist for years if gone unnoticed [1].
For men, the proportion is about 1 in 2 men. Women can have an infection for years and men can be infected for months without knowing. In women, chlamydia usually infects the cervix (the neck of the uterus). In men, it infects the urethra (the tube inside the penis that carries urine and semen) and the testicles.
Some refer to chlamydia as a “silent” infection. This is because most people with the infection have no symptoms or abnormal physical exam findings.
The most dangerous viral STD is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which leads to AIDS. Other incurable viral STDs include human papilloma virus (HPV), hepatitis B and genital herpes.
Signs and symptoms that might indicate an STI include: Sores or bumps on the genitals or in the oral or rectal area. Painful or burning urination. Discharge from the penis.