Frequently Asked Questions

• Seeking a more private STI testing option?

  STI testing doesn’t require a trip to the doctor’s office. Simply purchase this test from the comfort of your home and visit one of our more than 2,000 convenient and professional testing locations nationwide.

• What will STI testing tell me?

  The Complete STI Test will tell you if you have one or more of the following common STIs—chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C—and thus may require treatment. Nearly all of these STIs must be properly treated and monitored to prevent serious health problems. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and syphilis are treatable with antibiotics. Hepatitis C infection is treatable with antiviral medications and HIV infection can be well-controlled with antiretroviral therapy (ART). Finding out your STI status and seeking treatment, if warranted, can protect your own health and that of your partner(s) and/or children.

• What are some of the most common STI symptoms?

  Many people with STIs have no symptoms. Symptoms may vary by type of infection. When symptoms are present, some of the most common STI symptoms may include2,3:   Pain or burning during urinationUnusual discharge from the vagina or penisFlu-like symptoms (e.g., fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, muscle aches)Sores, rashes, warts, bumps, blisters and/or raised spotsDark-colored urine and yellow skin or eyes

• Who is this STI test recommended for?

  This Complete STI Test is available for those who are age 18 and older and are sexually active. As for STI testing frequency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following1:   All sexually active people ages 13 to 64 should be tested:   At least once for HIV   Sexually active men who are gay or bisexual and men who have sex with men should be tested:   For syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea at least once a year. Those with multiple or anonymous partners should be tested more frequently (e.g., every 3 to 6 months)For HIV at least once a year and may benefit from more frequent HIV testing (e.g., every 3 to 6 months)For hepatitis C, at least once a year, if living with HIV   All sexually active women younger than 25 years should be tested:   For gonorrhea and chlamydia every year   Women 25 years and older with risk factors should be tested:   For gonorrhea and chlamydia every year. For HIV every year or more frequently (e.g. every 3 to 6 months). Risk factors include having new partners, multiple partners or a partner who has an STI

• What else can be mistaken for an STI?

  Other conditions that can be easily mistaken for an STI include:   Yeast infections, which can cause discharge, itching and burningBacterial vaginosis (BV), which can cause discharge and a fishy odorUrinary tract infections (UTIs), which can cause painful and frequent urinationMpox (formerly monkeypox), which can cause rashes and swollen lymph nodes   If you have concerning symptoms or questions, you should contact a healthcare provider for next steps and to see if STI testing is right for you.

• Can you take an STI test too soon?

  There’s generally a period of time, called a “window period,” before a test will show positive after an exposure, and it varies depending on the specific STI.4 The window period can vary by person and test method. Sometimes a person may test positive during the early detection period, especially if they are symptomatic. However, if testing is too early, an infection may not be detected, potentially resulting in a false negative result. The timing of potential exposure needs to be taken into consideration during results interpretation, especially if there is an ongoing concern about the possibility of infection (e.g., persistent symptoms).

• What do I do after I receive my results?

  As part of this test purchase, you are eligible to discuss your results with a healthcare provider at no additional cost to you.    If your test results are abnormal, you will be contacted by a healthcare provider from our independent physician network to discuss your results one-on-one in a stigma-free space. They can answer questions and provide personalized guidance to help with next steps, so you aren’t left wondering what to do.     Note: The consult provided with our independent physician network does not include providing treatment or writing prescriptions. They will advise you on what you can expect and should review with a treating physician, including further monitoring and treatment options.

• What’s the difference between STIs and STDs?

  STD stands for “sexually transmitted disease,” and STI stands for “sexually transmitted infection.” Both STD and STI refer to the same condition: infections that are passed from person to person through sexual contact.   Over the years, these infections have gone by several different names; STI is now the most up-to-date term. Educators and healthcare professionals switched from STD to STI because “infection” is thought to be less stigmatizing and more accurate than “disease” to describe these typically treatable conditions.5

• How accurate is this testing?

  Your testing will be performed in a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory. Labcorp provides leading-edge medical laboratory tests and services through a national network of primary clinical laboratories and specialty testing laboratories. Our labs perform regular quality assurance testing to ensure our results are accurate.

• Are my test results private and confidential?

  Your results will be provided to you through our secure online portal to view or print. Results are also made available through a secure portal to the independent healthcare provider who placed your test order.  If you are accessing your results through your Labcorp Patient™ account, all users linked to the account will have access to all OnDemand test results. Results may also be provided to a local, state, and/or federal health authority; for example, many states require the testing laboratory and physician to report test results for certain communicable diseases, such as COVID-19, to local or state health departments.   If you have questions or comments regarding the Labcorp Notice of Privacy Practices, or have a complaint about our use or disclosure of your PHI or our privacy practices, please contact: privacyofficer@labcorp.com, call us at (877) 234-4722 (877-23-HIPAA) and ask for the Labcorp HIPAA Privacy Officer, or send a written request to: HIPAA Privacy Officer, Labcorp, 531 South Spring Street, Burlington, NC 27215. You also may file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.