7-panel STI test

If you’re sexually active, taking an STI test is the most reliable way of making sure you’re staying safe. It also helps reduce the risk of you passing an STI onto someone else.

Many people with an STI (formerly known as STD) will not experience symptoms, so regular sexual health checks are important. If left untreated some STIs can cause long-lasting or permanent damage to your health (e.g. infertility and chronic pain).

General guidance

If you are sexually active, a comprehensive sexual health check is recommended once a year, and should include a multi-panel test such as our 7-panel STI test, which tests for some of the most common STIs in the UK, and at least one blood test, such as our:

• Syphilis test 
• HIV test
• HIV & Syphilis
• Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C & HIV test

If you are in a high-risk category and/or engage in frequent sexual activity with multiple partners, you may want to consider having a comprehensive sexual health check every 3-6 months.

For further advice and guidance, visit https://www.sexwise.org.uk/

How often you get tested and which STIs (previously called STDs) you are tested for can depend on your age, gender, risk factors, and how sexually active you are.

If you’re a man who’s sexually active…

It is recommended that you get an STI test annually. However, you may want to consider having a test every three- to- six- months if you are having regular unprotected sex with new or casual partners.

If you’re a woman who’s sexually active…

• It is recommended that you get an STI test annually. However, you may want to consider having a test every three- to- six- months if you are having regular unprotected sex with new or casual partners.
• If you are pregnant, it is recommended that you get tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and syphilis. Women who are high risk may also consider being tested for chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

AlphaBiolabs offers a range of STI tests to help you keep your sexual health in check, including:

• Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea test
• 7-panel STI test
• HIV test,
• Herpes test
• Syphilis test
• Herpes & Syphilis test
• HIV & Syphilis test
• Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C & HIV test

If you are having regular unprotected sex – especially if you and/or your partner have multiple sexual partners – it is recommended that you have a comprehensive sexual health test at least once a year.

This should include a multi-panel test such as our  7-panel STI test, which tests for some of the most common STIs in the UK, and at least one blood test, such as our:

• Syphilis test 
• HIV test
• HIV & Syphilis
• Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C & HIV test

If you are in a high-risk category and/or engage in frequent sexual activity with multiple partners, you may want to consider having a comprehensive sexual health check every 3-6 months.

A Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea test is ideally suited to individuals who have had a comprehensive sexual health check in the previous 12 months and simply want to test more regularly for these most common (and often symptomless) infections.

For more information on symptoms and complications see ‘What are the symptoms of the STIs included in the 7-panel STI test?’

Our STI (STD) testing is 100% accurate and reliable based on the samples we receive at our laboratory.  

Our UKAS-accredited laboratory works to strict, government enforced protocols to ensure your results are as accurate as possible.

Unlike many other online STI testing providers, our range of STI/STD tests has been developed in accordance with stringent guidelines as set by the British Association for Sexual Health & HIV (BASHH), Faculty of Sexual Reproductive Health (FSHR) and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

If you have any concerns about the reliability of your results, we would be happy to talk to you and answer any questions you might have.

For further guidance, we recommend making an appointment with your GP or visiting your nearest sexual health clinic.

You can also learn more about STIs/STDs by visiting https://www.sexwise.org.uk/.

Once you have ordered your test, we will dispatch your test kit and also send you an email with a link to register your test online.

Please follow this link to complete your registration form online, ensuring that all your personal details are correct before collecting your samples.

If you have not received the email by the time you receive your test kit, please contact us on 0333 600 1300 or email health@alphabiolabs.com for assistance.

IMPORTANT: You MUST register your test online before returning your samples to our laboratory.

We will not be able to start the testing process until you have registered your test.

AlphaBiolabs offers two types of sample collection for the 7-panel STI test: a vaginal swab or a urine sample.

Both our vaginal swabs and our urine sample pots are suitable for women ordering an STI test. However, we recommend a vaginal swab for women where possible, for a more accurate result.

If you are a female who would prefer to submit a urine sample for testing, please contact our Customer Services team who will be able to help.

If you are a homosexual man, you will need to use our urine sample pot. However, other STI (STD) testing providers may also recommend a rectal swab, depending on your personal circumstances.

AlphaBiolabs does not currently offer rectal STI testing. If you require more options for STI testing, we recommend speaking to your GP or consulting your local sexual health clinic for further information.

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

When testing women, we ask that a sample is provided from the vagina using a vaginal swab (like a cotton bud), for the most conclusive result. This is because swabs taken from inside the vagina are likely to have the highest concentration of the pathogens we are testing for in the laboratory.

Although females can submit a urine sample for testing, a urine test is not as accurate for people with female genitalia. This is because the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) is not the main area of exposure for females when an STI is contracted during sexual intercourse.

A vaginal swab is a quick and painless way of collecting your sample for the purpose of STI testing.

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 infectious organisms/bacteria are carried out of the body and can be detected within the urine sample when it is analysed at the laboratory.

If you are providing a urine sample, it is important that you do not urinate for at least one hour prior to collecting your sample as this could wash away pathogens and make the sample less concentrated, affecting the results of the test.

If a pathogen is present, it will be detectable in the vaginal swab or urine sample using laboratory analysis. The sample is analysed using a method known as PCR testing to detect the presence of any pathogens.

Please note that AlphaBiolabs does not currently offer STI testing using oral or anal swabs.

For further advice and guidance, visit https://www.sexwise.org.uk/

Many people with STI infections will not experience any symptoms at all, meaning that regular STI testing is important.

Our 7-panel STI test can detect seven STI (formerly known as STD) pathogens: chlamydia trachomatis, mycoplasma genitalium, mycoplasma hominis, Neisseria gonorrhoea, trichomonas vaginalis, ureaplasma parvum and ureaplasma urealyticum.

It is important to note that both women and men can be affected by all seven of these pathogens including ureaplasma parvum and ureaplasma urealyticum (both UTIs).

These pathogens all present similar symptoms, so it is beneficial to test for all of them to identify which STI you might have. You have the option to request either a vaginal swab test kit (females) or a urine sample test kit (males) when placing your order.

Below is an overview of some of the most common symptoms experienced by men and women for each of the seven pathogens included in an AlphaBiolabs 7-panel STI test, along with possible complications if left untreated:

Your test results will tell you whether you had a detectable infection at the time your sample was collected.

If a pathogen is Detected, this means that you had an infection when you collected your sample for testing.

If you receive a Detected result, you MUST contact your GP or local healthcare provider to seek treatment for the infection. Some GPs or clinics will also recommend further testing to determine which strain of the pathogen is present, so that you can receive the correct medical treatment.

If a pathogen is Not detected, this means that an infection was not present in the sample at the time of collection.

If you receive a Not detected result but believe that you have been exposed to an STI, or continue to experience symptoms, we recommend that you take another test two weeks after receiving the results of your first test.

Please note: If you have ordered our 7-panel STI test, your results will tell you whether the seven pathogens included in the price of your test were Detected or Not detected in your sample (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, mycoplasma genitalium, mycoplasma hominis, trichomoniasis, ureaplasma parvum and ureaplasma urealyticum).

If you are transgender and require an STI (STD) test, please select the test kit that aligns with the genitalia you have at the time of sample collection.

Customers with female genitalia are advised to use our vaginal swab test kit.  However, if you would prefer to provide a urine sample, you can contact our Customer Services team on 0333 600 1300 who will be able to assist you.

Customers with male genitalia are asked to submit a urine sample for testing.

If you are unsure about which test to order, please contact our Customer Services team who will be able to provide confidential advice on which test is best for you.

The incubation period refers to the amount of time it takes for you to show or experience symptoms from the time you were first infected.

However, many people will not experience any symptoms when infected with an STI, which means that regular STI testing is important.

Every STI has a different incubation period, depending on which STI you have.

Incubation periods can vary from as little as one day to months or even years, depending on when the body begins to produce antibodies and show symptoms.

Below are the incubation periods of some of the most common STIs (previously referred to as STDs) that we test for at AlphaBiolabs:

STI/STD	Incubation period
Gonorrhoea	1-14 days
Herpes (genital/oral)	2-12 days
Trichomoniasis	5-28 days
Chlamydia	7-21 days
Hepatitis B	8-22 weeks
Hepatitis C	2-26 weeks
HIV	2-4 weeks
Syphilis	3 weeks – 20 years (type dependent)

Explore our full range of STI/STD tests

Full confidentiality is maintained throughout the testing process and when providing you with your results.

However, it is important to note that in the interests of public health and safety, AlphaBiolabs is required to report certain ‘clinically significant’ core organisms to Public Health England if they are detected within your sample.

These organisms include chlamydia trachomatis, mycoplasma genitalium, neisseria gonorrhoea and trichomonas vaginalis.

For this reason, we do ask for limited personal information from individuals submitting their samples for STI testing.

Reports made to Public Health England include the individual’s full name, date of birth, gender, ethnicity, and postcode.

Yes, you can take a 7-panel STI test whether you are symptomatic (experiencing symptoms) or asymptomatic (not experiencing symptoms).

If you do not have any symptoms, we recommend that you take an STI test no sooner than two weeks after having unprotected sex.

If you collect your sample too soon, the results of your test may not be as accurate. This is because each STI has a different window period – the time it takes from when you were first infected to when an STI can be detected in your sample – meaning that an infection may not be detected if a test is done too early.

However, if you have started to experience symptoms, you can test immediately.

If you have no symptoms, carry out the test two weeks after having sex.

Other tests that you can take even if you do not have symptoms include our Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea test, Syphilis test, HIV test, HIV & Syphilis test, and our Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C & HIV test.

You can order one of these tests here.

Yes, you can take an STI (STD) when you’re on your period and still receive a conclusive result.

However, we recommend waiting until your period becomes lighter or you have stopped bleeding before taking a test. This will ensure a more accurate test result.

Yes, you can take an STI (STD) test when you’re pregnant.

If you are expecting a baby and you are experiencing symptoms that could indicate you have an STI, it’s especially important to get a test before the baby is born.

This is because certain STIs, including chlamydia and gonorrhoea, can be passed to the baby during delivery.

When an STI test is performed during pregnancy, a swab is inserted into the lower part of the vagina. This will not harm the baby in any way, and your test result will be just as conclusive as if you weren’t pregnant.

You partner does not have to take an STI test just because you have decided to take one.

However, if your results show that an infection has been detected, you should let your partner know so that they can also arrange to be tested.

We strongly advise that you get an STI test if an infection has been detected in your partner’s sample.

If you have received your results and an STI (previously referred to as STD) has been detected, we recommend that you contact your GP or visit your local sexual health clinic for further guidance and treatment options.

You should also abstain from sexual contact, to avoid passing the infection(s) on to other people.