Do sti tests show all stis

[Strelok]

Hi there i had a sti test about 6 months ago and everthing came back negative and since then didnt have sex or oral and was woundering do sti tests show all stis because i get alight paranoia here and there whether the test was done proparly or not e.t.c

[Hidden]

Dear Strelok,

A routine STI check for someone that doesn't have symptoms includes tests for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and a blood test for HIV and Syphilis. If you didn't have a blood test then HIV and syphilis would not have been tested.

There are other infections, but would normally show symptoms. For example, Herpes causes painful ulcers in the genitals. Genital warts should show as fleshy lumps. There are no specific tests for these infections done routinely. There are some infections that are harmless to most people, but can cause symptoms in some, hence only tested if you have symptoms.

The tests done also depend on your risk factors. You don't say whether you are male/female/gay/straight, sex abroad, injecting drug user etc. This would affect what tests are done.

Kind regards.

[Strelok]

Also just want to ask that ive read that stis like herpes and genital warts remain dormant for years at time then appear so if i took an sti test would they show these stis if i had them

[kerryblue Administrator]

Hi, With some sti's you don't do a routine test. For example genital warts, you would be able to tell from looking if you had them or not. For herpes, if there was an ulcer/sore there you would have a swab taken from the area at the time you come to the sti clinic.

You can carry both the herpes and the genital wart virus for many years without knowing you are carrying it, many people have the viruses but they don't realise as they never get the warts or the herpes ulcers. there is no specific test to look for the viruses if you don't have any symptoms.

hope that is of some help.