STI Testing? Concerns.

[Hellion]

Hi

Sorry if this isn't the correct section for this.

Has anyone ever had symptoms of an STI after seeing a working girl, only to get tested and come out clean? A couple of years ago I had some like coloured discharge the morning after seeing someone who I was already concerned about because it turned out she'd been bareback with clients (should've done more research). I never actually got it tested for as it never came back. I never had anything like that before, or since. It was fairly obviously some kind of infection, I mean it's waaaaay too much of a coincidence not to be linked to the escort I'd just seen the night previously, and I'm not sure what else it could've been.

I got tested via one of the big high st pharmacy chains who offer it online, they sent it by post and you send back a sample of urine. Does this sound like a reliable testing method to you guys? I always thought you needed to go to a clinic and they put that thing down you knob? Is just a urine sample sufficient? I have no reason to believe this isn't a legit test as, like I said, it's one of the most well known pharmacies. Probably being really paranoid now but I was convinced I'd picked something up.

Cheers. 

[YorkshireLad]

A urine sample is sufficient (& blood sample for HIV)..I only get home testing kit's, never been to a clinic. Most STD's take at least 2 weeks to show up & HIV can be 6 months.

[scutty brown]

easy to get a false negative on a urine test through errors in the sampling process. Besides which a low-level infection may not show
Go to a clinic and get sampled and tested properly

[Hellion]

Two very different replies haha. It's been well over 6 months anyway so it won't be an issue of time. I'm still not sure whether a urine test is "proper" testing. Sigh.

[scutty brown]

only urine is required, but it depends on what is done with the urine.........
you can check visually for bacterial cells
you can carry out cell cultivation tests
you can carry our PCR enhancement to look for cell DNA

each test works in a different way, and each can give false positives and negatives in different ways
typically a clinic will take the urine, visually check it and if nothing is found then do a culture test to confirm. If they're checking for drug resistance they'll do a cultivation test anyway. If theres a lingering low level infection they may look for DNA using PCR - but that can prove positive for a dead infection.
Commercial kits rely on DNA binding to reagents, but lack the sensitivity of PCR and are very subject to errors in urine sampling: too early or too late and there wont be any cells in the flow

whenever I've been tested for gonnorhea recently they've done both a visual and culture test

[milo]

Two very different replies haha.

Did you really expect to get the sort of definitive advice that would have completely reassured you about a medical question on a punting forum?

We don't know how careful you were in conducting the test and interpreting the results, nor anything about your medical history or your sexual contact.

Possibly, it might be better to seek trained medical advice?

[Students Notebook]

Two very different replies haha. It's been well over 6 months anyway so it won't be an issue of time. I'm still not sure whether a urine test is "proper" testing. Sigh.

Go to your local GUM Clinic.

You can look up their address under NHS Sexual Health.

It's well worth doing. I've done it and if I can, so can you.

PM me if you need help.

S.N.

[Students Notebook]

Two very different replies haha. It's been well over 6 months anyway so it won't be an issue of time. I'm still not sure whether a urine test is "proper" testing. Sigh.

Bloody hell, you've been a member since April 2013 and only made 3 posts. The first being last October.

S.N.

[Erinaceinae]

External Link/Members Only

If you can book a working girl you can probably find and ring your nearest clinic.

If you are worried enough to ask you are probably worried enough to get checked properly.

[Hellion]

Did you really expect to get the sort of definitive advice that would have completely reassured you about a medical question on a punting forum?

We don't know how careful you were in conducting the test and interpreting the results, nor anything about your medical history or your sexual contact.

Possibly, it might be better to seek trained medical advice?

Of course I didn't expect that, but I thought there would be a number of people on here who have experience in this as it's quite important given we all meet with escorts. I guess people are as in the dark about these 'online' tests as I am. It's Boots' online pharmacy, and gets sent off to a "proper" testing facility. I was really trying to ascertain whether people thought urine sample testing was sufficient for things like gonerrheoa and chlamydia, and whether or not they're known to be unreliable. I could of course go to a clinic and ask about this but try to understand, I didn't go down the online route because I WASN'T worried about going to a clinic, I would've thought that was pretty obvious.

[Hellion]

External Link/Members Only

If you can book a working girl you can probably find and ring your nearest clinic.

If you are worried enough to ask you are probably worried enough to get checked properly.

The point I'm trying to ask about is: is this getting checked "properly" or not? Why would you say a clinic is "properly" but a testing kit you send off by post and wait for the results isn't? That's what I'm trying to get at.

[Hellion]

only urine is required, but it depends on what is done with the urine.........
you can check visually for bacterial cells
you can carry out cell cultivation tests
you can carry our PCR enhancement to look for cell DNA

each test works in a different way, and each can give false positives and negatives in different ways
typically a clinic will take the urine, visually check it and if nothing is found then do a culture test to confirm. If they're checking for drug resistance they'll do a cultivation test anyway. If theres a lingering low level infection they may look for DNA using PCR - but that can prove positive for a dead infection.
Commercial kits rely on DNA binding to reagents, but lack the sensitivity of PCR and are very subject to errors in urine sampling: too early or too late and there wont be any cells in the flow

Ok, thank you. That's sounds like it's probably not the most reliable test, especially since it's been a while since the infection might have taken place.

whenever I've been tested for gonnorhea recently they've done both a visual and culture test

[scutty brown]

The point I'm trying to ask about is: is this getting checked "properly" or not? Why would you say a clinic is "properly" but a testing kit you send off by post and wait for the results isn't? That's what I'm trying to get at.

1) your sampling technique may be flawed
2) the bacteria may die in transit due to improper storage
3) multiple tests may be required - they won't do that. They've no time to do a culture test

the test itself will be fairly sensitive, but the problem is with the sampling / handling / storage

[Erinaceinae]

1) your sampling technique may be flawed
2) the bacteria may die in transit due to improper storage
3) multiple tests may be required - they won't do that. They've no time to do a culture test

the test itself will be fairly sensitive, but the problem is with the sampling / handling / storage

What he said.

and this.
External Link/Members Only

[Hellion]

1) your sampling technique may be flawed
2) the bacteria may die in transit due to improper storage
3) multiple tests may be required - they won't do that. They've no time to do a culture test

the test itself will be fairly sensitive, but the problem is with the sampling / handling / storage

I think it says on the lab website that they do culture tests, but it's not clearly worded to confirm this. Either way, I guess I'll have to go to a clinic to get a 2nd opinion as it's just going to bother me otherwise.

Thanks.

[Students Notebook]

Do it as soon as you can. Better to be safe than sorry.

I ended up with Prostatitis from an infection caused by a prozzie sucking my cock. Such a lovely girl too.

Could have been  much worse though.

S.N.

[Conker]

"I had some like coloured discharge the morning after seeing someone"

You wouldn't get symptoms this quickly. Plus for a test to reliable you need to wait something like  2weeks after exposure. Recommend get re-tested if still concerned

[milo]

I guess I'll have to go to a clinic to get a 2nd opinion as it's just going to bother me otherwise.

I expect everyone who has followed this thread would agree that is the best thing to do.

(I suspect that deep down you knew that before you started the thread.)

Search on the forum, there are several threads which describe people's experiences at various clinics. Hopefully, they will persuade you that it doesn't have to be something to worry about.

[Bigwilts]

With a clinic you get to discuss your situation, appropriate risks, any symptoms or whether you’re testing as a matter of routine and pick the right range of tests.

Your clinic will also know the local trends for different ‘communities’ in the area

[jawill]

A NHS clinic will do the same urine test as a private mail specimen.  However, you need to be sure you collect the urine specimen correctly.

1. Use first catch urine, is, piss straight into the container when you start

2. Wait at least 2 hours since your last piss.  Better still, use your first piss of the morning as your sample.


It's very accurate provided your file these steps. Post it as soon as you can. I've used superdrug online Dr on the past and they use TDL London/Manchester to do their tests, a very modern up to date lab which all the private clinics use so I wouldn't worry.

Only question is, of you had a bit of discharge, why the hell did you leave it 6 months!!

[peter_bungee]

just go to a nhs walkin std clinic its quick and free.  A reputable online urine sample will be accurate but if you are getting symptoms is better to be tested by a clinic and get swabs etc

[Robinh191]

just go to a nhs walkin std clinic its quick and free.

+1 with a caveat - it's free but it ain't quick, not in my experience. Unless you mean quicker than compared to it being done by mail.

[Robinh191]

OP - you'll also get a:

1. Physical / visual test where the health professional can check for warts, sores, bumps, rashes and other evidence of STI.
2. Blood test, if you choose to have it done.

[shagmore]

If you are at all concerned, go to a specialist, don't rely on home tests 

[Zeusthedoc]

NHS GUM clinics...free, easy, and walk-in (depending on the time of day usually).

no need to piss about.
walk in
give details (fake if you'd really like)
be sure to put ur phone number down and tick the box that says you only want correspondence via text
answer some Qs
give some blood
get a text if you're clean
get a phone call if there are any concerns!

[Students Notebook]

Bloody hell, you've been a member since April 2013 and only made 3 posts. The first being last October.

S.N.

I'm not certain that Hellion is taking this very seriously.

We've all offered him good practical advice and has he taken it ??

What do you all think ??

S.N.