sti home test kits

STI Test Kits

Full STI tests are a comprehensive screen for the most common STI’s. Using urine and blood samples it will look for the presence of bacteria and viruses that cause STI’s. For anyone who is sexually active this is recommended as part of your routine health management. 

Why Use A STI Home Test?

One of the challenges with many STI’s is that they are silent. What we mean by that is that they often show no symptoms, so it is possible to have a STI without being aware of it. Yet we also know that if left undiagnosed STI’s can lead to chronic long term health issues including infertility, sterility and even cancer. Another reason to carry out a full STI screen is that many STI’s have similar symptoms so knowing which one to test for can become difficult.  A full STI check that tests for the most common STI’s will give you complete peace of mind.

Who Should Have A STI Home Test?

If you are commencing a sexual relationship with a new partner, or you may be concerned that you had a risk event that could have exposed you to a STI, you are sexually active and have never had a STI check-up.

What Do You Get With A STI Home Test?

Full home STI tests will require you to provide a blood and urine sample. Most tests provide you with finger prick lancets and urine collection containers. All packaging is discreet.

It is important to note that syphilis and hep B can take 12 weeks to be detected so if you have any specific concerns about these two STI’s do time your taking of the test carefully.

What Does A Home STI Test Do?

Depending on the test you purchase a full STI test will test your blood and urine against common bacteria and viral infections that cause STI’s. These are chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis, gardnerella, mycoplasma, ureaplasma, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, herpes simplex virus 1 and 11.

Your urine sample will be tested for the bacteria chlamydia trachomatis and neisseria gonorrhoea that cause chlamydia and gonorrhoea. Your blood sample will be tested for HIV antibodies which you will have if you have been exposed to the virus. Your blood will also be used for syphilis where you would have developed antibodies in response to the bacterium treponema pallidum that causes syphilis. Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus-HSV, your urine sample will help identify if you have a herpes infection.