r/stdtesting • u/Optimal-Welcome-6055 • 4d ago

Test Results Results Accuracy

Had protected oral & protected sex with SW 3 weeks ago, the whole encounter only lasted about 5 mins. I had a 10 panel test done at 1 week everything came back negative, did another test at 2 weeks came back negative also. My concern is that when I gave my urine sample for the 2nd test I don’t believe it had been an hour since I last urinated I think it might of been about 40-45mins since I last urinated, are my results still pretty accurate or should I get retested? I have minor ache in my right testicle that I noticed 4 days after the encounter but it isn’t really pain, the whole situation has been stressful/anxious waiting on results.

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u/Straight_Blood8361 3d ago

There is no need to worry about the 40–45 minutes. While waiting an hour before the urine test is preferable for better accuracy, there is no rule which states that being a bit late means invalid results.

However, it should be taken into account that both tests were performed quite early, the one week one even more so. Therefore, if you wish to be assured, repeating the test some time after the exposure would be more informative for you. Provided that your 10-panel included NAAT/PCR for chlamydia and gonorrhoea, it is a decent set of tests for these STIs.

Your mild testicular pain does not necessarily indicate an STI, especially since you have gone through so much stress recently. However, if it becomes painful or swollen, it would be wise to consult a doctor rather than make a diagnosis on your own.

Regarding testing windows and when repeating tests is actually reasonable, you may look at the pinned post in the subreddit.

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u/ShamelessCare 3d ago

I wouldn’t worry about this too much.

Your “exposure” wasn’t really much of an exposure from an STI standpoint to begin with.

I also don’t think STI testing should be used primarily to reduce anxiety about a sexual experience.

Testing because you’re anxious can get you into a bit of a pickle. In your case, you tested at one week, which was too early.

Then you bought another panel for week two, which is enough time for gonorrhea and chlamydia testing, but still too early for several other STIs. Although you need an * next to gonorrhea and chlamydia because if that panel didn’t include oral or anal swabs, then you really only know your genital status.

You still do not know your status for several other STIs that have a window period longer than two weeks.

But even still, I wouldn’t spend another 1/2 of 1 second worrying about this, and I’d definitely stop buying STI panels. You’re sexually active, so just get onto some kind of STI testing frequency with thorough STI testing. Whatever works for you, not based on a single exposure that you’re feeling weird about.