Have questions about testing and how private STD testing works?
Here we've gathered your most frequently asked questions about getting tested for STDs, our medical services, communication, billing and payment. More questions? Don't hesitate to ask us.
Getting Tested for STDs
Q: How does getting tested work? Will I get a kit in the mail?
No home kits, no snail mail! We've made getting tested as fast and as stress-free as it can be. After you order your test, you can visit a lab location near you on the same day. It's a quick, 15-minute visit and there's no need for an appointment.
In three business days (often sooner), we'll send you an email alert that will direct you to login to your secure Message Center to view your test results. If you test positive, we will schedule a call with one of the doctors. If appropriate, the doctor will write a prescription for treatment and discuss follow up care. Learn more about how it works, or call our Care Advisors toll-free at 1.855.SEX.HEALTH (855.739.4325).
Q: Why should I get tested for STDs?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate 19 million new cases of STDs every year. And those are the reported cases. Most STDs are silent so you can have an infection and not know it. Unless you're not having any kind of sexual contact or you're in a mutually monogamous relationship in which both of you have tested negative for STDs, you're at risk for contracting or spreading STDs.
We recommend routine testing for STDs as an important part of maintaining your overall health and the health of those you love. Early detection can literally save your life.
Q: Doesn't my doctor automatically screen me for STDs?
While the CDC recommends routine STD testing for sexually active people, most doctors do not automatically screen their patients...this is especially true for genital herpes (HSV-2). Chances are, if you haven't asked for a herpes test, a chlamydia test, an HIV test or any other STD test, you haven't been tested.
Q: Which STDs can I get tested for?
We provide testing for the most common bacterial and viral STDs that can be diagnosed through blood or urine samples: chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, herpes 1 + 2, HIV and syphilis.
Q: I'm not sure which tests are right for me. How do I decide?
Your gender, age, sexual activity, screening frequency and other risk factors determine which tests are right for you. Medical Director Lisa Oldson, MD, has created an interactive STD Test Recommender to help you decide if you would benefit from STD testing based on your answers and the CDC guidelines.
Q: I believe that I was recently exposed to an STD. When should I get tested?
Most people who ask this question are thinking about what happened last night or last weekend. But there isn't a single right answer for when to be tested for recent exposure to one or more STDs...each type of infection develops at a different rate.
Chlamydia or gonorrhea may be detected within a couple of weeks after exposure, while HIV or herpes generally take four to six weeks – or longer – to develop detectable levels of antibodies. If you believe you were exposed to HIV or hepatitis B in the last 72 hours, you can be treated with antiviral medications or a hepatitis B vaccine, reducing the risk of actually developing either disease.
Keep in mind that, regardless of whether you had a possible exposure to an STD very recently, if you have had other unsafe sexual encounters in the past year and have not had a test, it's time to get tested. Our doctors recommend getting tested at three weeks from your last exposure and again at three months for early detection and confirmation. See our easy-reference STD Testing Windows Guide for more specific testing recommendations.
Q: How quickly can I get my test results?
Test results are usually ready within three business days, sometimes sooner (the HIV Early Detection test may take a couple days longer to process). Occasionally a test will take longer if a confirmatory test is necessary to validate a result. We will release all test results together. If you order the HIV Early Detection test it may take up to 7 days for all test results to be released.
Q: I only want to get tested once. Is there a downside to that?
It's best to get tested at three weeks after possible exposure to an STD and again at three months for confirmation.
The downside to waiting 3 months after exposure to get tested is that you may risk complications from an infection that is best addressed early on. And remember, HIV, hepatitis, herpes and syphilis may take longer than six weeks to show up, so repeating those tests at three months increases the likelihood of detecting a new infection. See our easy-reference STD Testing Windows Guide for more specific testing recommendations.
Q: Is it possible to get the same STD more than once?
Yes. Even if you've been treated for chlamydia, for example, you're not immune...you can be re-infected. That's why sexual partners should be treated at the same time so that an untreated partner still carrying a bacteria or virus doesn't re-infect the treated partner. It's also possible to have more than one STD at the same time.
Q: Will I need a physical exam to get tested for HIV or other STDs?
No, that's not necessary. The tests we offer require only blood or urine samples...no physical exam, undressing or swabbing required!
Q: How do I prepare for a test?
To ensure reliable results if you're getting tested for chlamydia and/or gonorrhea, please do not urinate for at least one hour prior to your lab visit. But you can eat or drink anything you'd like beforehand...there's no need to fast.
The other STDs we test for do not require any special preparation on your part.
Q: Which laboratory will process my tests?
Your tests will be processed by LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics, the largest CLIA-certified laboratories in the United States. These are the same laboratories that your regular doctors and hospitals use to process and deliver accurate, timely results.
With scientific expertise in esoteric testing, genomics and clinical and anatomic pathology, LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics perform literally millions of tests on hundreds of thousands of samples every day. In partnership with LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics, our doctors have selected the gold standard tests for STDs.
Q: What is a "testing window"?
A testing window is the period of time between exposure to an infection and detection of an infection through a blood or urine test.
STD tests are designed to detect signs of infection, which usually take time to develop after the initial sexual contact or other moment of transmission. For example, if you had sex with someone who has an STD and you became infected, you probably wouldn't test positive for the recently-acquired infection right away.
Every infection has a different testing window – also called an incubation period – ranging from a few days to three months after possible exposure. To help you decide when to get tested, your medical team at the Clinic has developed an STD Testing Windows Guide based on the best data available.
Q: What is "seroconversion"?
Seroconversion is the point at which the immune system has developed the antibodies needed to fight infection ("sero" means blood, or serum). For example, the HIV antibody test is most reliable after three months when seroconversion to the virus has most commonly occurred. According to the CDC, most people infected with HIV will develop detectable antibodies within 25 days of exposure, and 97% of people will have HIV antibodies by three months after exposure.
Medical Services
Q: Tell me more about the doctors.
The Analyte Physicians Group is a national medical practice consisting of doctors who are licensed in their respective states. Each doctor is specially trained in telemedicine with emphasis on sexual health, HIV and STD testing and treatment. When you order a test or a test panel, a doctor will authorize your test request and will review your results. If your test comes back positive, our Care Team will schedule a call with the doctor so you can discuss the results, treatment and follow up care. In addition, the Analyte doctors and other sexual health experts are here to answer questions, no matter how personal they are.
Q: I have an urgent STD-related question. How can I get in touch with you?
If it's a medical emergency, please go to the emergency room or call 911. If it is not urgent and you have a question, please call a Care Advisor toll-free at 1.855.SEX.HEALTH (739.4325). Note: For a known HIV or hepatitis exposure within the last 72 hours, you may have the option of prophylaxis (medication to prevent infection) which is most commonly dispensed at your nearest Emergency Room, although it may also be available through a local STD clinic or your local health department.
Note: For a known HIV or hepatitis exposure within the last 72 hours, you may have the option of prophylaxis (medication to prevent infection) which is most commonly dispensed at your nearest Emergency Room, although it may also be available through a local STD clinic or your local health department.
Q: My sexual health is personal. How can I be certain that all matters related to testing are kept private?
As a medical practice, we are committed to providing quality healthcare, including protecting your right to maintain privacy of your health information and securing all your protected health data. Our commitment to your privacy goes beyond offering a confidential service...learn more about how we protect your privacy.
Q: Why do I need to acknowledge the Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP)?
The Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) informs you of your rights and how we will protect your health information in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). We are very serious about protecting your private health information. Learn more about our privacy and security practices.
Communications
Q: How will I be contacted about my test results?
We contact you by email, but we'll never reveal any personal health information in the subject line or body of the email.
When your test results are ready, you'll receive an email from "APG Services" (info@apgservicesinc.com) advising you to log in to the secure Message Center at SexualHealth.com where you can view your results and other messages.
Q: What is "APG Services"?
APG Services is short for Analyte Physician Group Services. To help protect your privacy, we use "APG" in our email and billing communications.
Billing & Payment
Q: What are my payment options?
We currently accept all major credit cards and pre-paid gift cards.
Q: Do you take insurance?
We accept most major PPO and POS plans in most states. We do not currently accept HMOs, Medicare or Medicaid in any states. Call 855-SEX-HEALTH to see if your insurance plan qualifies.
Q: What will appear in my email and billing statements?
A: You will receive email and credit card billing from "APG Services."
Q: Why do I need to provide my address?
If you test positive for a reportable disease, we are required by law to provide your name and address to your local public health authority.
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
Within 21 days of placing your order, we offer a full refund before you visit the test center. If you wish to cancel your order, just email us your account number and the email address assigned to your account for verification.