This is a general guide only. It is best to talk to your doctor in order to find out what to test and when.
The testing for any STD must be done within the correct testing period. All infections, STD included, have a so-called ‘incubation period’. During this period, identifying the infection may be difficult. The test may show a false negative result during the incubation period. The STI testing table below provides information on what is the optimal time to get tested after exposure to STI / STD.
Our clinic provides fully confidential STD / STI checks. Rest assured that you will not be judged for asking for an STI check.
The testing window for common STIs is as follows:
| Type of STI | Pathogen type | Testing window | Type of test | When to retest after treatment |
| HIV | virus | 10–33 days for a nucleic acid test. 18–45 days for an antigen/antibody test. 23–90 days for an antibody test |
Blood or saliva test. The blood nucleic acid test gives the earliest results | None |
| Chlamydia | bacteria | 1–2 weeks | Blood or urine sample, or swab of the throat, rectum, cervix, or vagina | 3 months |
| Trichomonas | protozoa (parasite) | 1 week to 1 month | A swab of rectum, penis, or vagina | 2 weeks |
| Syphilis | bacteria | Within 3 weeks after sores appear. Sores appear usually 1 week after exposure | Blood test | 6 and 12 months |
| Gonorrhea | bacteria | 5 days to 2 weeks | Blood or urine test. A swab of the anus, urethra, cervix, or throat | Test 2 weeks after treatment, or 2 weeks later after exposure if the first test is negative |
| Herpes | virus | 1–4 months | A blood test or swab of a sore | None |
| HPV | virus | 3 weeks to a few months | Pap smear in females only — no approved test for males | None |
| Hepatitis | virus | 3–6 weeks for hepatitis B. 2–6 weeks for hepatitis C | Blood test | Retest 6 months later |
