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STDs (Expert Forum)
Std worries and testing questions
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
Std worries and testing questions
by bigdaddy1992, Jun 08, 2005 12:00AM
Hi Doc, i have some questions i hope that you can answer. i Have just had a full screen for all std's after 7 months possible exposure.
1. is that enough time for All Std's to show in tests?
2. The syphillis test performed is the TPHA Test how good is that test for reliability compared to other tests?
3. are the Chlamydia and Gonnorreah tests accurate?
4. Is the HIV test accurate after 7 months?
5. I have had a sore stinging foreskin for months now, they took a swab for herpes and a blood test, it is not an actual sore just sore skin so how
accurate would the swab be compared to the blood test? ( The Doc said it didnt look like herpes but he cant be sure hence the swab & blood test.)
6. is it true that oral gonnorreah in the throat resolves itself without treatment and chlamydia never or rarely affects the throat?
7. The tests i had done are Chlam,Gonn,HIV, Syph, Urine sample For NSU, Herpes.
Before having unprotected sex with a partner is there anything else i should be tested for?
Many Thanks for this wonderful forum!!!
Thanks
1. is that enough time for All Std's to show in tests?
2. The syphillis test performed is the TPHA Test how good is that test for reliability compared to other tests?
3. are the Chlamydia and Gonnorreah tests accurate?
4. Is the HIV test accurate after 7 months?
5. I have had a sore stinging foreskin for months now, they took a swab for herpes and a blood test, it is not an actual sore just sore skin so how
accurate would the swab be compared to the blood test? ( The Doc said it didnt look like herpes but he cant be sure hence the swab & blood test.)
6. is it true that oral gonnorreah in the throat resolves itself without treatment and chlamydia never or rarely affects the throat?
7. The tests i had done are Chlam,Gonn,HIV, Syph, Urine sample For NSU, Herpes.
Before having unprotected sex with a partner is there anything else i should be tested for?
Many Thanks for this wonderful forum!!!
Thanks
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jun 08, 2005 12:00AM
, Jun 08, 2005 12:00AM
Thanks for the kind words about the STD Forum.
You can be sure you aren’t infected. To answer your specific questions: 1) Yes, all tests would be positive long before 7 months. 2) TPHA is an excellent syphilis test. 3) I don’t know which gonorrhea and chlamydia tests you had. But the most commonly used ones are at least 90% sensitive. Anyway, in men most gonorrhea or chlamydia would have caused symptoms, which you presumably didn't have; and would have cleared up by now on its own. 4) HIV tests generally are positive within 2 weeks and virtually always by 4-6 weeks; 7 months is plenty of time. 5) Sounds like your doctor gave you accurate advice and information; I can’t add anything. 6) Yes on both counts. 7) No, you don’t need more tests. You already have been unusually cautious, perhaps unnecessarily so – although that of course depends on the nature of the exposure(s) you are concerned about. Your follow-up question: it depends on the disease and the test. Most STD tests are much better than 70%.
Good luck—HHH, MD
You can be sure you aren’t infected. To answer your specific questions: 1) Yes, all tests would be positive long before 7 months. 2) TPHA is an excellent syphilis test. 3) I don’t know which gonorrhea and chlamydia tests you had. But the most commonly used ones are at least 90% sensitive. Anyway, in men most gonorrhea or chlamydia would have caused symptoms, which you presumably didn't have; and would have cleared up by now on its own. 4) HIV tests generally are positive within 2 weeks and virtually always by 4-6 weeks; 7 months is plenty of time. 5) Sounds like your doctor gave you accurate advice and information; I can’t add anything. 6) Yes on both counts. 7) No, you don’t need more tests. You already have been unusually cautious, perhaps unnecessarily so – although that of course depends on the nature of the exposure(s) you are concerned about. Your follow-up question: it depends on the disease and the test. Most STD tests are much better than 70%.
Good luck—HHH, MD
Member Comments (2)
by bigdaddy1992, Jun 08, 2005 12:00AM
Just a follow up on STD Testing i have been told that tests are only about 70% accurate, is this true and does this apply to all std's??
