AlphaBiolabs launches STI testing for members of the public and healthcare partners

Health-conscious consumers can now depend on a leading provider of DNA, drug, alcohol, and Covid-19 testing services for their sexual health testing, with the launch of two new at-home STI test kits from AlphaBiolabs.

Available now from just £39.50, our STI tests provide a 100 per cent accurate and reliable result for anyone looking to keep their sexual health in check, with just a simple vaginal swab or urine sample required (self-collected at home).

Consumers have the option to purchase two types of STI test direct from our award-winning UK laboratory.

Our Complete Panel (7 STIs) (£95) detects chlamydia, gonorrhoea, mycoplasma genitalium, mycoplasma hominis, trichomoniasis, ureaplasma parvum (UTI) and ureaplasma urealyticum (UTI), whilst our Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea test (£32.50) detects the three most common (and often symptomless) STIs in the UK.

Both tests have been expertly developed by our highly experienced team of in-house scientists and calibrated to the very highest standards for scientific analysis.

As well as offering the tests to members of the public, AlphaBiolabs is also making STI testing available to businesses interested in joining our testing partnership programme.

As a UKAS ISO 17025-accrediated testing laboratory, we already count numerous clinics, pharmacies, occupational health services, healthcare providers and medical service providers among our customers – both in the UK and abroad. 

Should I take an STI/STD test?

There are many reasons why a person might want to get tested for STIs (previously referred to as STDs).

This could include experiencing symptoms that might mean you have an STI (e.g. itching, burning, irritation, more frequent urination), you and/or your partner having unprotected sex with multiple partners, or wanting to ensure you’re healthy before starting a physical relationship with a new partner.

If you’re an adult who’s sexually active, getting tested regularly for STIs/STDs is the best way to ensure you remain in good health.

It also helps reduce the likelihood of you passing on STIs to other people.

Additionally, some of the most common STIs such as gonorrhoea and chlamydia are often symptomless, meaning you might not even know you have an infection.

This is especially worrying if you have an undiagnosed STI that can cause long-term health complications such as infertility (e.g. chlamydia) or lead to an increased risk of catching HIV (e.g. gonorrhoea).

If you’re sexually active, it’s a good idea to have a comprehensive sexual health screen at least once a year. Our Complete Panel (7 STIs) test is ideal for this purpose.

If you’re someone who has already had a comprehensive sexual health screen in the previous 12 months, and you simply want to test more often for the most common (and often symptomless) infections, our Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea test is the right test for you.

How does an AlphaBiolabs STI test work?

There are currently two options for sample collection for an AlphaBiolabs STI test:

• A vaginal swab – for customers with female genitalia
• A urine sample – for customers with male genitalia

The most accurate way to detect STIs (STDs) is to collect samples from the area that is most likely to have been exposed to infection during sexual contact.

When testing men, the highest concentration of a pathogen can be found within the urinary tract (urethra) inside the penis.

When a man passes urine, traces of bacteria/infectious organisms are carried out of the body and can be detected within the urine sample when analysed at the laboratory.

For women, a quick and painless way of collecting a sample for STI testing is to use a vaginal swab (like a long cotton bud).

This method provides the most conclusive result for females because swabs taken from inside the vagina are likely to have the highest concentration of pathogens for testing at the laboratory.

Each sample collection kit includes full instructions on how to take your vaginal swab or urine sample and return it safely to our UK laboratory for testing.

Where can I buy an STI/STD test?

It’s easy to buy an STI test online now, from AlphaBiolabs.

Simply select your preferred test from the options available.

Our Complete Panel (7 STIs) test, available for £95, is the most comprehensive and can test for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, mycoplasma genitalium, mycoplasma hominis, trichomoniasis, ureaplasma parvum (UTI) and ureaplasma urealyticum (UTI).

Our Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea test can be purchased for just £32.50 and screens for these most common of infections.

You’ll receive your discreet, password-protected results by email in just three days from your samples being received at our laboratory.

For further information or guidance on which test is best for you, call our friendly and knowledgeable Customer Services team on 0333 600 1300 or email health@alphabiolabs.com.

If you operate a clinic, pharmacy, or other medical service and are interested in joining AlphaBiolabs testing partner programme, call 0333 600 1300 and ask to speak to our Partners team.

Alternatively, email partners@alphabiolabs.com and a member of the team will be in touch to discuss your needs.