What is an STD?

STDs are viral, parasitic, or bacterial diseases transmitted through sexual contact. You can also get these diseases by contacting infected body fluids like semen. STDs manifest themselves through symptoms like:

Genital discharge
Painful urination
Sores in the genital area
Painful sexual intercourse
Vaginal bleeding
Skin rashes in the genital area

How Does STD/STI Testing Work?

In an STI test, lab technicians look for two things to determine if you have an infection. First, they look for STD-causing pathogens in your blood, swab, or urine sample. Second, the clinicians look for specific proteins released by STI pathogens. The standard tests for STD diagnosis include:

Cheek swab
Urine sample
Discharge swab
Blood sample

How Long Does it Take to Get STD Test Results?

How long do STD tests take to come back? The waiting time for results depends on the procedure used. For simple tests like the rapid test for HIV, you will receive results within minutes. Results from a fluid and swab test take longer.

Below is an overview of the time you would wait for the test results of various STIs:

Gonorrhea

Like many common STIs, clinicians in Omaha diagnose gonorrhea in two ways. They use urine tests as the most common test. At times, doctors may order a genital swab, which provides a more accurate diagnosis. Both tests provide results within 2-3 days.

Chlamydia

Laboratory technicians use a urine test to determine whether you have Chlamydia. They can also use a swab from the rectum or urethra to test for some STIs. After testing, you wait 2-3 days to receive your results.

Syphilis

How long do STD tests take to come back? The tests for syphilis can take 1-10 days. A blood test is the primary diagnostic test for the syphilis bacteria. Sometimes, doctors may use the spinal fluid to test for this bacterial STI.

Herpes

The viral disease manifests itself as fluid-filled blisters in the genital area. Thus, doctors can recognize it by the appearance of the symptoms. However, to confirm this viral STD, doctors order a blood or swab test. Results for a herpes test come after 1 and 14 days.

HIV

HIV is one of the easiest STIs to diagnose. Clinicians use rapid tests that provide results within 30 minutes. Notwithstanding, a clinician may order a swab test if exposure is recent. It may take up to a week for the swab to provide results.

HPV

Testing for HPV is quite time-intensive, so results take longer to come. A laboratory technician must swab your cervix to collect cells before analyzing them carefully. HPV diagnostic results come out within 1-3 weeks.

Trichomoniasis

How long do STD tests take to come back? For trichomoniasis, you can get your results within 1- 3 days. Your doctor can order a swab from the vagina test to diagnose trichomoniasis. Alternatively, for male patients, the doctor may order a urine test.

Diagnosis for STDS & STIS

Doctors use your sexual history and symptoms to determine if you have an STI. However, the doctors request urine, blood, or swab samples to confirm the diagnosis. These tests are performed in a reputable laboratory.

ARCpoint Labs is the leading provider of STD testing in Omaha. Our third-party administrator works alongside reputable laboratories to test for all STIs. Whatever test you need, you can get it at ARCpoint Labs.

Get Peace of Mind With Reliable & Accurate STD Testing Services in Omaha

Unlike many other laboratories, we offer discreet testing to our clients, helping you avoid the stigma associated with STIs. In addition, the reliability of our tests is 90-95%, so you can be confident in making healthy decisions. Whichever test you book, we will provide the results within the shortest possible time.