std testing - which to ask for

[NotSorry]

I'm not symptomatic of any diseases - in good health.
But since I've never been formally tested for STDs, I'd like to be screened for them as a courtesy to my current/future partners.
I'll be looking to make the appointment soon - which ones should I ask for?

[lovers]

Hubby just had his done. He does the following:

- HIV
- Syphilis
- Gonorrhea
- Hepatitis
- Herpes

Hope that helps.

[Plasticman57]

Be careful with the Herpes test. Cold sores are a form of herpes and can generate a false positive. I agree with the list presented in the other post and just look for genital warts also.

[unusualsuspects]

We have had good (and easy and fast) results with the deluxe test package from Justgettested.com and there are often 10% coupons online if you look around.

It includes: Gonorrhea Test, Chlamydia Test, Hep B, Hepatitis C test, Syphilis, Genital Herpes and HIV test

[Sardaukar]

Well if you have no symptoms why would like to get tested..lab tests are just tests and they are used to confirm a diagnosis not to make a diagnosis. Do you think you have been exposed to STD if your answer is Yes then you and your contact need to get tested for that particular STD. Otherwise you may need to pay for the tests out of pocket money. Something else..in some scenarios some test may give a false positive result like for exmple tests for syphilis.

PS negative tests can be also true negative (no STD) or false negative (there is disease but the test missed it)..

[SecretAsianMan]

And having a doctor on-board is paying off already!

Cool, huh?

[nllswing]

Originally Posted by Plasticman57

Be careful with the Herpes test. Cold sores are a form of herpes and can generate a false positive. I agree with the list presented in the other post and just look for genital warts also.

plasticman: if cold sores are a form of herpes, how come thsi can be a false positive? Please, can you elaborate?

[Sardaukar]

I think he/she means the antibody based tests. Some of them actually discriminate between HSV1 and HSV2, however they can not tell if you have an active infection or you had one in the past. It is believed that about 50% of the adult in US are positive for HSV antibodies. The viral culture from an active blister or PCR based tests are nearly 100% specific.

[nllswing]

Thanks Sardaukar, but the confusion still remains: isn't it true that once you have herpes you have it for life? Or I have the definitions wrong?

[Sardaukar]

Once infected HSV goes and hides in the nerve ganglia to replicate it travels back to the inoculation site where it will cause blisters. The immune system is good controlling the infection and there are long remissions (latent infection) however some factors can precipitate blistering like stress or cold, UV light etc..etc. so once infected is for life.

[nllswing]

So, Plasticman meant "latent inection" when wrote "false positives"?

[Plasticman57]

I am sorry I have been out of touch with the board and did not reply in a timely manner to your question. After reading Dr, Sardaukar's reply I concur that he gave you the precise answer I would have given and his information is correct. I am sorry for not being in touch.

[Plasticman57]

To all, in laymans terms once you have the virus "herpes" whether it is HSV1 or 2 you have it for life. The outbreaks with blisters can come frequently or lay dormant for several months or even a year. An "outbreak" of blisters can be triggered by stress, fear, anger, death of a loved one or loss of job. However, after the initial outbreak and the first reoccurance the outbreaks generally get milder and last shorter time periods and are farther apart. While we have no cure for herpes we do have medicines to manage the symptoms and control the frequency of the outbreaks.