What Happens at an STD Test? Urine, Swabs and Blood Explained

Waiting for a test is often scarier than the test itself. Here is what usually happens when you order a test online, step by step, so you know what to expect.

How do I order an STD test online?

You choose the tests you want and place the order online. Check which infections and which body sites the test covers before you order, because panels differ between tests. The guide to which test you need helps you decide.

You can say what you want in plain terms when you pick:

• “I want a full STD check, including HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea.”
• “I’ve had oral and anal sex, so I want throat and rectal swabs too, if the test includes them.”

If you have a sore, a swab of the sore needs a doctor or clinician in person, because it works best while the sore is present.

What will I be asked?

When you order, you may be asked about symptoms, recent partners, the kinds of sex you have had (vaginal, anal, oral) and whether you used condoms. This is routine, and the answers help you choose the right tests. You do not need to justify anything.

How is a urine test done?

You pass the first part of your urine stream into a small cup, usually in a private bathroom. A urine sample is used for chlamydia testing, and for men it is usually the first-catch urine. If you are unsure about timing, check the instructions that come with your order, including whether you should avoid urinating beforehand.

What does a swab test involve?

A swab is a soft cotton or synthetic tip. Depending on the infection and the exposure, it may be used on:

• The vagina. Often self-collected: you insert the swab a short way and rotate it, in private. CDC says patient-collected vaginal swabs perform as well as clinician-collected ones.
• The throat. The swab is rubbed over the back of the throat, which can briefly make you gag.
• The rectum. A short swab is placed just inside, and it can often be self-collected.
• A sore. A doctor or clinician swabs an open sore to test for herpes, which works best while the sore is present.

Swabs should not be painful. Stop if anything hurts.

What happens during a blood test?

At the partner lab, the skin is cleaned and a small amount of blood is drawn with a needle, or taken from a fingertip prick. Blood tests are used for HIV and for hepatitis B and C, and may also be used for other infections such as syphilis. For HIV, a rapid test may give a result while you wait.

Is it confidential?

Your results are personal health information. If you worry about privacy, check the provider’s privacy information before you order, and think about which email address and device you use to see your results.

How long do results take?

• Rapid HIV tests: results are usually ready within 30 minutes or less. CDC says HIV self-test results can come within 20 minutes.
• Lab tests, including HIV NAT and lab antigen/antibody tests: these can take several days.

Check the timeline for each test when you order. Your results arrive online. If a result is positive, a doctor or clinician can prescribe treatment, since many infections can be treated with prescribed medicine. Tell recent partners so they can be tested too, and find out whether you need to retest later. The window periods guide explains when a repeat test may be needed.