Home kit
Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea Test (throat)
A PCR test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea from a throat 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
Chlamydia and gonorrhoea can infect the throat through oral sex, and throat infections usually cause no symptoms. They are not picked up by urine or a genital swab. This self-taken throat swab checks the site directly.
For anyone who has oral sex. Throat infections usually cause no symptoms and are not tested by a urine or genital sample, so the throat has to be swabbed directly.
Who this is for and who it isn’t
Who it’s for
- Adults aged 18 and over
- Anyone who has oral sex with a new partner
- People whose partner has tested positive
Who it isn’t for
- It tests the throat only. Add the urine or vaginal test, and the rectal test where relevant, to cover the other sites. A follow-up test after treatment is advised for throat gonorrhoea.
- 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
- Oral sex with a new partner
- A partner who has tested positive
- Regular testing when you have several partners
- A sore throat after oral sex
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
- Any sex · 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 do I take a throat swab?
The swab is rubbed across the back of the throat and both tonsils for a few seconds. It may make you gag briefly but is over quickly.
Does a throat infection matter if there are no symptoms?
Yes. Untreated throat gonorrhoea can be passed to partners and is thought to contribute to antibiotic resistance, which is why clinics test the throat when the kind of sex you have had makes it relevant.
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.
People also check
See all sexual health tests
7-in-1 STI TestA PCR test that looks for seven sexually transmitted or genital infections from a single sample: first-catch urine or a self-taken vaginal swab.£282.99Includes postageView test
Cervical Swab CultureA bacterial culture of a cervical swab: the sample is grown on media chosen for that site and any significant organisms found are identified and reported.£133.00Includes clinic appointmentView test
Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea Test (rectal)A PCR test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea from a rectal swab.£54.99Includes postageView test