INFECTION SCREENING
What is Infection screening?
Infection screening generally refers to testing for sexually transmitted infections. Many sexually transmitted infections may not cause any symptoms in the early stages whilst giving rise to inflammatory and other tissue damage with potentially damaging consequences (such as infertility). Evidence suggests screening can help prevent such damaging long term consequences.
What Infection screening tests are available?
The screening tests detailed in the table below are readily available for healthy women/men without symptoms of disease:
|
Infection
|
Test type |
Suitable for Women/Men |
| Chlamydia | Urine / Swab | Both |
| Gonorrhoea | Urine / Swab | Both |
| Trichomonas | Swab | Both |
| Bacterial Vaginosis | Vaginal swab | Women |
| Thrush (Candida) | Vaginal swab | Women |
| Syphilis | Blood | Both |
| Hepatitis B | Blood | Both |
| Hepatitis C | Blood | Both |
| HIV | Blood | Both |
Women/men already demonstrating symptoms of disease are advised to arrange urgent appointments with their doctor to undergo appropriate testing/treatment.
What are the risks of Infection screening?
Infection screening is a relatively painless and safe procedure but as with all screening processes, it is not perfect; there can be false positives and false negatives.
