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Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea Test (swab)
A PCR test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea from a self-taken vaginal swab.
- Doctor-reviewed results
- Laboratory analysis
- 1 to 2 working days from lab receipt
- No fasting required
What’s included
2 infections tested for
Chlamydia trachomatis
Tests for chlamydia, a sexually transmitted infection that can affect the genitals, throat, bottom and eyes. Most people who have it do not notice any symptoms. It is treated with antibiotics, and without treatment it can lead to serious problems, including pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Tests for gonorrhoea, a bacterial sexually transmitted infection that can affect the genitals, throat, bottom and eyes. Not everyone who has it gets symptoms. It is treated with antibiotics, and without treatment it can lead to serious problems, including pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.
Overview
The standard two-infection PCR test, from a self-taken vaginal swab, which is the sample UK guidance recommends for anyone with a vagina. Both infections often cause no symptoms at all, which is why testing after a new partner or a condom failure is routine practice rather than a sign that something is wrong.
The standard test for the two most commonly diagnosed bacterial STIs in England, from a self-taken vaginal swab. Both are often symptomless, so testing is the only reliable way to know.
Who this is for and who it isn’t
Who it’s for
- Women aged 18 and over
- Women testing after a new partner
- Anyone who prefers a self-taken vaginal swab to urine
Who it isn’t for
- Two infections only. No HIV, syphilis, hepatitis, trichomonas or Mycoplasma genitalium. If you have had sex at more than one site, a single sample may not cover you: rectal and throat versions of this test exist for that reason.
- A test taken too soon after exposure can miss an infection, so check the window periods above. Free confidential testing is available from NHS sexual health services.
- Anyone with a new, severe or worsening symptom: contact your GP or call NHS 111. A test you buy today is not a substitute for being examined.
Common reasons people choose this test
- A new partner, or condomless sex you are worried about
- A partner who has been told they have an infection
- Discharge, or pain when passing urine
- No symptoms at all, and wanting a routine check
These are reasons people choose to test, not signs that something is wrong. A result is one part of a picture your doctor puts together with your history and an examination.
What your result looks like
Every result is shown with the unit and the reference range exactly as the laboratory reported it, with the doctor’s note underneath.
- Chlamydia trachomatisDetected
- Result
- Detected
- Range
- Not detected
- Neisseria gonorrhoeaeNegative
- Result
- Not detected
- Range
- Not detected
| Marker | Result | Units | Range | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia trachomatis | Detected | n/a | Not detected | Detected |
| Neisseria gonorrhoeae | Not detected | n/a | Not detected | Negative |
Doctor’s note (example)
Chlamydia has been detected. It is treatable: a sexual health clinic or your GP would usually discuss a short course of antibiotics, and recent partners need testing. We explain both, and how to tell partners anonymously if you prefer.
Values above are examples. Your report shows your own results with the laboratory’s units and reference range for your age and sex, reviewed, signed and released by a GMC-registered doctor.
How it works
- Your kit arrivesPosted to your door, with instructions and what you need to send your sample back.
- You take your sampleA swab you take yourself at home, using the kit we post you
- The laboratory analyses itYour sample is processed for the measurements included in this test. Lab processing typically takes 1 to 2 working days from receipt of your sample.
- A doctor reviews and releases itA GMC-registered doctor reads every result and signs the report before it reaches you.
- Sample
- Home swab kit
- Preparation
- Read instructions below
- Who it's for
- Women · ages 18+
How to prepare
UK sexual health practice is to test at least 2 weeks after the exposure you are worried about, and to test again later if you tested sooner than that. Chlamydia symptoms, if they appear at all, can start from 1 week to several months after infection, so symptoms are not a guide to when to test. Gonorrhoea symptoms, if they appear at all, usually start around 2 weeks after infection but can take months. Post your sample the same day you take it, and avoid posting just before a weekend or a bank holiday.
What we can and can’t tell you
The reference range beside each result is the laboratory’s own. A result in range is not a clean bill of health and a result outside it is not a diagnosis. Most ranges cover about 95% of healthy people, so about 1 in 20 healthy people fall just outside any one range. No test result replaces an examination or your own doctor’s judgement, and none of these panels is a cancer screening programme.
Read the full note
Infection tests are reported as detected or not detected, not against a normal range. A not-detected result applies only to the infections tested, the site the sample came from and the time it was taken: an infection caught too recently to show up can be missed, so a test taken too soon after an exposure may need repeating. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea often cause no symptoms, so if one is detected it usually needs antibiotic treatment even if you feel well.
If you have symptoms that are new, severe or getting worse, contact your GP, an NHS sexual health clinic or NHS 111 rather than waiting for a result.
Frequently asked questions
How soon after sex can I test?
UK practice is to test at least two weeks after the exposure you are worried about, and to test again later if you tested sooner. Symptoms, if you get them, can start from about a week to several months after infection, so they are not a guide to when to test.
Do I need a rectal or throat test as well?
It depends on the sex you have had. A genital sample does not detect infection at those sites, and UK guidance bases rectal and throat testing on your sexual history rather than testing everyone. We sell rectal and throat versions of this test if they are relevant to you.
What if it is positive?
A doctor reviews the result and the report explains what it means. Both infections are treated with antibiotics through your GP or a sexual health clinic, which can also help with telling recent partners.
How long do results take?
The laboratory typically takes 1 to 2 working days from receiving your sample. This does not include kit delivery, sample collection or return postage. A doctor reviews your results before they are released.
Can I choose a home kit or a clinic?
This test uses a swab you take yourself at home, not a blood sample. The kit arrives by post with step-by-step instructions and what you need to send it back.
Is a doctor involved?
Yes. Every result is reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor who signs it off and explains what it means and what to do next.
Is it confidential?
Your results are available through your secure patient portal. Our privacy policy explains how your information is handled and when it may be shared to provide your care.
What happens to my sample and results?
Your sample is tested at a UKAS-accredited laboratory (ISO 15189). A GMC-registered doctor then reads every result and signs the report before it is released to your secure portal, so nothing reaches you unreviewed. For each infection tested, the report says whether it was detected or not detected, with the doctor's note on what that means for you. If something is detected, the report explains how to get treatment, usually through your GP or an NHS sexual health clinic, whether recent partners need testing, and whether a repeat test is advised after treatment. If a result needs urgent attention, the reviewing doctor is alerted straight away and we contact you by phone the same working day rather than leaving it in the portal for you to find.
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