Question about STD tests

[uniqueflower]

I found a site called tstd.org.  They offer anonymous testing, which sounds good.  Has anyone gotten tests from them before?  I want to make sure they are a reputable company.

Also, according to their web site, they test for chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, herpes 1, herpes 2, syphilis, and HIV-1.  Why is there no test for HIV-2 or Hepatitis A?  I've only had sex once in my life, and that was 6 years ago with a prostitute in Amsterdam, and I used a condom.  But the question has always been in the back of my mind, and I want to finally get some peace of mind.  So do I need to worry about the STDs that the tests don't cover, like HIV-2, hepatitis A, HIV-1 Group O, etc.?

[uniqueflower]

So it's unlikely the pro might have serviced someone who went to western Africa?

Yeah, that was my only contact.  Although I do remember feeling a couple small bumps under the skin of my penis maybe a couple weeks after the encounter.  I got attacked by bed bugs a little earlier in my trip though, so maybe that's what they were?  Or maybe I got HPV, although I know they don't test for HPV.

And I do remember seeing a red circular sore on my penis maybe a couple months after the encounter.  But that was during the winter, and I frequently had skin problems with my penis back then during the winter, so maybe it was nothing.

I haven't felt any bumps or seen any sores on my penis since then.  But I do want the peace of mind, so I will get tested.

[auntiejessi]

6 years ago?  You'd know long ago if you had gonorrhea or chlamydia, and your risks for everything were so small.

If you feel the need to test, just test for herpes and syphilis.  Those are the ones that can be spread even when using condoms.

However, your risk is SO small.  If you had no symptoms, you really shouldn't worry.

AJ

[gracefromHHP]

Yes tstd is a reputible company to order up std tests from. They usually contract out thru either labcorp or quest labs which are the 2 biggest labs out there.

I'm totally with dallasfan though - you are going to test for an encounter that was protected 6 years ago?  really low risk.  Have you had other partners since then and are only just worried because of sex with a professional?

grace

[Dallasfan]

Interesting series of questions you pose. I must ask why you are interested in testing if the only contact was once and it was protected. You have almost zero risk for STDs. To answer your question about Hepatitis A, it is so prevalent in a high percentage of the population and because it is a food borne infection, it should not really be considered an STD. Hepatitis A testing does not give you good information unless there is a need to diagnose an acute GI illness with jaundice. Now HIV-2 is a very rare immunodeficincy virus endemic in western African nations. Routine testing for it is not recommended by the CDC unless there is contact with someone who has know HIV-2 or is from those western African nations. Further information can be found at the CDC`s web site on HIV-2. Take care