The Best At-home Chlamydia Test - What You Need to Know

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It is the most commonly reported STI in the United States. Even so, many cases go unreported because often, there are no symptoms. 

Chlamydia can infect both women and men. If left untreated, it can cause life-threatening harm. Among men, untreated chlamydia can cause painful testicular swelling, and in rare cases, infertility. Among women, untreated chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, or infertility. 

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Possible symptoms of chlamydia in women include:

• Painful urination
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Unusual vaginal discharge
• Bleeding between periods
• Bleeding after sex
• Pain in the lower abdomen
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Possible symptoms of chlamydia in men include:

• Painful urination
• Discharge from the penis
• A burning sensation in the urethra
• Pain in the genitals
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You can get chlamydia by having oral, vaginal, or anal sex with someone who has the disease. You can contact chlamydia even if your partner does not ejaculate. If you have chlamydia while you are pregnant, you can pass it on to your baby during childbirth. The best way to avoid contracting chlamydia is by not having unprotected sex.

Whether you have symptoms or not, if you are sexually active, you may want to take a test. Several different types of home collection chlamydia tests are available. In this article, we will review the different types of home chlamydia tests, how to get them, how to take them, and what the results mean.

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What Is an At-home Chlamydia Test?

Screening for chlamydia is quite simple and can be done at home. There are three types of CLIA-certified home tests for chlamydia. Here are your testing options:

• Urine test: This test kit provides everything you need to take a urine sample. You can then send it to a lab to be analyzed for the presence of a chlamydia infection. 
• Swab test: This test involves a vaginal swab for women. This involves taking a swab of the discharge from your vagina. For men, the swab sample is taken from just inside the tip of the penis. The swab is then sent to a lab for antigen or culture testing for chlamydia. 
• Blood test: Although chlamydia is not a bloodborne disease, a blood test can check to see if you have chlamydia antibodies. Their presence in your blood can indicate that you have chlamydia or have had it in the past. The easiest way to take an at-home chlamydia blood test is with a mobile sample collection and lab testing service.

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When Should I Consider Getting a Chlamydia Test?

Bear in mind that often, chlamydia has no symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), men and women who are sexually active and have multiple sexual partners should be tested for chlamydia, and other common STIs, every year. 

For your peace of mind, and to maintain your sexual health, you may also wish to get screened for other common sexually transmitted diseases at the same time. Other common tests include trichomoniasis, herpes, hepatitis C, syphilis, as well as HIV tests, and gonorrhea tests.

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How Can I Get a Home Test for Chlamydia?

The good news is you can get screened for chlamydia without seeing a doctor. You can purchase an at-home chlamydia test from your local pharmacy, from an online retailer, or a diagnostic laboratory. 

If you prefer having a blood test for chlamydia, you also have the option of using a mobile phlebotomist, like Getlabs. In this case, a Getlabs specialist will come to your home, collect your blood sample and take it to a local lab to be analyzed. 

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What Should I Do Before My Chlamydia Test?

There is no need to fast before your chlamydia STI test. You may need to talk to your healthcare provider beforehand if you are taking any medications or you are having other tests at the same time. 

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What Should I Do During My Chlamydia Test?

Our Getlabs phlebotomists maintain professionalism, courtesy, and respect for your privacy throughout their visit. Upon arrival, your phlebotomist will show you their ID and confirm your name and the type of test you have requested. They will also ask you a few questions about your health. At this point, it’s a good idea to mention if you have had any previous adverse reactions to a blood draw, such as dizziness, fainting, swelling, or infection at the needle site.

Before taking your blood sample, your phlebotomist will ask you to sit or lie comfortably. They will then examine your arm of choice and select an appropriate vein in your inner arm. Next, they will then clean your arm with an antibacterial wipe at the site where blood will be drawn.

Your phlebotomist may tie a tourniquet around your upper arm to make your veins more visible. They will then insert a fine needle into your vein and attach a collection vial. Once the sample has been taken, the needle will be removed, and your phlebotomist will place a dressing over the needle site. The test takes less than five minutes to complete.

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When Can I Expect to Know My Chlamydia Test Results?

The time it takes for your test results to come through may vary slightly depending on the lab and whether you are having other tests at the same time. Typically, you will receive your results within 2-3 business days. You may get your results from your doctor or via your laboratory's patient portal. 

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How Do I Interpret My Chlamydia Test Results?

Your test results will be either negative or positive. If you have a negative result, this means that your blood sample was normal, and you are not infected with chlamydia.

If you have a positive test result, this means that the lab found chlamydia antibodies in your blood and you have been infected with chlamydia. You may need to make an appointment for a follow-up consultation at your doctor’s office to review your results and discuss treatment options.

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Are Chlamydia Home Test Kits Reliable?

As well as the convenience of an at-home test, home STD test kits for chlamydia are generally reliable. Swab testing is slightly more accurate than urine testing and produces accurate results 92-92% of the time. Blood tests for chlamydia tend to be even more accurate. 

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Check for Chlamydia and Other STDs at Home with Getlabs

If you are sexually active and have multiple partners, it’s important to maintain your sexual health by having regular tests for common STIs. 

At Getlabs, we can provide you with collection services for more than 5,000 sample tests. It is easy, safe, and completely confidential. All you need to do is book an appointment online. A trained phlebotomist will visit your home, take a sample of your blood, and take it to a local lab for testing. 

All you need to do is wait for your results. At Getlabs, we are dedicated to providing a friendly service to anyone who wants bloodwork done at home.