What are gonorrhea and chlamydia tests?
These tests use a sample of urine or other body fluid to look for the bacteria that cause these sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The fluid sample can come from the cervix, vagina, rectum, throat, or eyes.
Why are gonorrhea and chlamydia tests done?
These tests may be done to:
- Find out if symptoms are caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia.
- Check people who are at high risk of being infected with gonorrhea or chlamydia.
- Retest people several months after they have been treated for gonorrhea or chlamydia.
- Check for infection in your newborn if you had a gonorrhea or chlamydia infection at the time of delivery.
How are gonorrhea and chlamydia tests done?
- For a direct sample, a swab is used to collect body fluid from the cervix, vagina, rectum, throat, or eyes. Your doctor may collect the sample. Or you may be given instructions on how to collect your own sample.
- For a urine sample, you will collect the urine that comes out when you first start to urinate. Don't wipe the genital area clean before you urinate.
How do you prepare for gonorrhea and chlamydia tests?
- If you are going to have a urine test, do not urinate for at least 1 hour before the test.
- If you think you may have chlamydia or gonorrhea, don't have sexual intercourse until you get your test results. And you may want to have tests for other STIs, such as HIV.
What do the results of a gonorrhea test mean?
Normal: | No signs of gonorrhea bacteria are found. If a culture is done, no gonorrhea bacteria grow in the culture. More testing for other sexually transmitted infections may be needed to find the cause of any symptoms. |
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Abnormal: | Signs of gonorrhea bacteria are found. If a culture is done, gonorrhea bacteria grow in the culture. |
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