At-home STD Testing

Across the country, a survey by the National Coalition of STD Directors found that 83% of STD programs have paused services and community visits, and 66% of clinics reported a decrease in sexual health screening and testing due to COVID-19. Testing.com wants to play a part to help individuals that cannot make it to a clinic or do not have an established source of care access STD testing through all the available telemedicine platforms and at-home tests.

Since many STDs are undetectable in their early stages, those who are infected can unknowingly transmit these illnesses, while also risking their own health. Therefore, it’s important that sexually active individuals get tested regularly.

At-home STD testing is a convenient, discreet way to check for common STDs. This article provides an overview of the screening process, as well as recommendations for the best at-home STD testing kits.

Accuracy - In general, users can trust the accuracy of their at-home STD testing. Many companies offer free re-testing for positive results, and users who have concerns about their results are encouraged to speak directly to a healthcare provider.

How Often to Get Tested for STDs - The timing and frequency for STD testing varies by the type of infection, and individual factors. The CDC has recommendations for how often individuals should be tested for STDs based on their gender, age, sexual orientation, and sexual behaviors. These recommendations are minimums; individuals should be tested immediately if they notice any symptoms, regardless of when their last test was.

When to Get Tested, and Re-Tested - Another factor that complicates STD testing is that different infections have different incubation periods. This means that, even if an individual is infected, a test may not provide accurate results if the infection is still in what is known as the “window period,” when there are not detectable amounts of the infection in a person’s system. Regular testing can help account for window periods of infections.

What types of at-home STD tests are available? - There are a few different types of at-home STD tests. Individuals can get kits that test for a single STD; a few common STDs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis; or a comprehensive panel of common and more rare STDs. Read more at https://www.testing.com/std-testing/at-home-std-test/