Chlamydia Test

A Chlamydia Test is a medical test used to screen for and correctly diagnose Chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacteria Chlamydia Trachomatis. Chlamydia is one of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted diseases inflicting the American population.
It is very important to treat the disease at the right time to prevent serious long-term complications, and spreading of the infection to others. Infact, it is recommeded by health organizations that sexually active men and women regularly get themselves screened for the disease.
We're the most trusted Chlamydia testing clinic in the United States. Our Chlamydia testing labs are located across the U.S. So stop typing "Chlamydia testing near me" in the Google, and book your Chlamydia urine test with us.
Chlamydia Testing Options & Which one you should choose?
The tests to detect a Chlamydia infection include:
Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT)
NAAT tests find out the genetic material of Chlamydia bacteria. A positive test implies that the problem exists. A false-positive test is a false alarm that only appears to detect a disease or condition when infact the disease is not present.
A Polymerase Chain Reaction test is a type of Nucleic Acid Amplification (NAA) test. It is conducted on a urine sample. The NAA test is a molecular test that detects the genetic material of Chlamydia Trachomatis. It is the most accurate and specific test than those others available for detecting Chlamydia. It can be performed on a vaginal swab on women, or urine from both men and women. Women need not go through any pelvic exam for a NAA test.
Chlamydia Culture:
This is a test to find the bacteria that causes the disease. A sample of body fluid is taken from cervix, urethra, eye, rectum, or throat and added to certain cells used to grow chlamydia. If no chlamydia bacteria infect the cells, the culture is negative. If chlamydia bacteria infect the cells, the culture is positive. The results for Chlamydia culture take 5-7 days more than the other tests for the same disease.
Where to get tested for Chlamydia?
In United States, we have over 4,000 testing centres across the country for Chlamydia. A person can get a test done at any of these testing centres.
Someone is required to book the test in advance through over website before visiting any of our Chlamydia testing centers. We do not accept any payment at the testing centre.
How to order a Chlamydia Test Online?
We offer Chlamydia test for men and women both. You can order your Chlamydia test online on our website. You can use your area zip code to find a Chlamydia testing center near you . To order your test online, click on the button below.
There are different Chlamydia testing options are available on our website. You can take Chlamydia only test or can club the test with other common sexually transmitted diseases. If you wish to get tested only for Chlamydia, the package will cost you $89.
Alternatively, you can also take Chlamydia & Gonorrhea test, which will cost you $129, Or the Panel test, which will cost you $198. With the panel test you can get tested for 10 most common sexually transmitted diseases.
After you select the package you want to order, you can find the Chlamydia testing center near you using your area zip code.
Now create a profile on our website by filling out your details such as your First name, Last name, gender, Date of Birth, and E-mail address.
Finally, you have to make the payment online on our website as the test centers do not accept any payments.
After we receive your payment, you will receive an e-mail from us containing ‘Lab Requisition Form’ with a test code. Now you can visit the test center with the Lab Requisition Form and code to get tested. It is required at the testing centers for record purpose.
When is the Right Time to Get Tested For Chlamydia?
In case, a person suspects a possible Chlamydia infection he or she must get tested within 1-5 days. However, it is advisable to wait atleast 24 hours after exposure before a screening test is done. A person who has already been treated for Chlamydia should take the test again after 21-28 days to make sure that the bacterium is fully cleared.
If a person is tested positive, it is recommended that the treatment should start immediately.
How to Prepare for the Chlamydia Test?
A Chlamydia test is done on either a urine sample or body fluid collected from areas like cervix, urethra, eye, rectum or throat.
The following are few to-do’s that a person must keep in mind before doing a test:
Urine Sample: Do not urinate for 2 hours before a urine sample is collected. If the body fluid is to be collected from the cervix, a woman should not douche or use vaginal creams and medications for atleast 24 hours before the test.
It is important to note that using antibiotics before the tests may hamper accuracy of the test results. Presence of stool in the rectal sample is another cause why a test may be ineffective.
How is Chlamydia Test Done?
If a urine sample is collected for a NAAT test, a person must not urinate for atleast 2 hours before the test. It is also necessary that a person collects the first part of the urine as soon as urination takes place.
A person must not wipe the genital area clean before urinating.
In case, a body fluid is to be collected for testing, the following are the procedures for both men and women:
For men: A doctor will insert a swab into the opening of your urethra or rectum. A man must not urinate for atleast 2 hours before the sample is taken.
For women: A woman has to lie on her back on an exam table with her feet raised and supported by stirrups. The doctor will examine the vaginal and genital areas. The doctor will insert a lubricated speculum into the vagina to open up the vaginal walls. Once the vaginal walls are spread apart,the inside of the vagina and cervix become visible. Samples are collected from a cervix with a swab or brush.
To collect a sample from the eye, the doctor has to gently brush the insides of the lower and upper eyelids with a brush.
There are self-tests that a woman can perform and bring it to the lab for testing. Throat culture is also a test to detect Chlamydia though it is rarely opted for.
What is Chlamydia ?
Chlamydia is a very common sexually transmitted disease that afflicts both men and women. In United States, it is the most commonly reported sextually transmitted disease. Every year over 2.8 million people are infected with the disease which accounts for 5% of Americans.
It is a bacterial disease that occurs due to bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. In 2015, a total of 1,526,658 chlamydial infections were reported in 50 states in United States including the District of Columbia. The year before in 2014, it was a total of 1,441,789 cases reported in 50 states in United States.
Each year, over 3 million new cases of Chlamydia are reported in the United States. It is very common among sexually active teenagers in America. Among 10 % of sexually active teenagers in America are infected with the disease.
Women and men with multiple sexual partners are at risk for the infection. Sometimes other sexually transmitted diseases can also be present in a person at the same time as Chlamydia. So, people testing for Chlamydia should also get a test for Human Immunodeficiency virus( HIV) done to be on the safe side.
Symptoms of Chlamydia
In Women
The common symptoms of Chlamydia in women are:
- Abdominal pain
- Bleeding between menstrual cycle
- Low fever
- Painful intercourse
- Pain and burning sensation during urination
- Swelling inside the vagina
In Men
The common symptoms of Chlamydia in men are:
- Swelling around the anus
- Pain during urination
- Swollen testicles
It is important to note that symptoms of Chlamydia donot always show prominently and yet the infected person will suffer damage to his internal organs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Not to Do When You Have Chlamydia?
If a Chlamydia infection is suspected, donot have sexual intercourse till the time test results are confirmed. If the disease is confirmed donot have sexual intercourse for 7 days after the start of the treatment.
To avoid getting re-infected post treatment, it is important to get the person’s sexual partners also treated for the disease.
How is Chlamydia Treated?
Chlamydia is treated with the use of oral antibiotics like Azithromycin or Doxycycline. It is important that the patient finishes all the antibiotics even if he is starts to feel better. The treatment usually clears up in about a week or so. After recovery, a person must get re-tested after 3 months to be sure that the infection is cured.
In case of severe Chlamydia infection, a person may need hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics, and other pain medicines.
What Happens if Chlamydia is Left Untreated?
There are many health risks if the infection is left untreated. In women, the infection can cause pelvic inflammatory disease. Pelvic inflammatory disease in turn can give rise to conditions like damaged fallopian tubes or even cause infertility.
Chlamydia can also cause ectopic pregnancy in women. In pregnant women, it can cause premature birth, and infection to new born child . The new born child may develop infection or pneumonia if the mother is infected with Chlamydia.
In men, it can cause a condition called nongonococcal urethritis which is an infection of the Urethra,epididymitis which is an infection of epididymis, that is the tube that carries sperm away from the testesa or proctitis, which is inflammation of the rectum.
Like all sexually transmitted diseases, the precautionary measure against Chlamydia is to practice safe sex and avoid having multiple sexual partners. It is also important to get a screening test done as soon as any symptom is noticed. When treated at the right time, the disease is curable.
Be safe, be healthy!