One of the testing methods used here at Priority STD is the blood test. Blood or urine tests are very common for a variety of different sexually transmitted infections (STDs) and are more often preferred over the dreaded Pap test. Pap smears can make many people feel quite uncomfortable and even prevent some people from ever getting tested. For this reason, the accuracy of blood and urine tests has improved. But how accurate are these tests?
Priority STD ensures that its patients undergo tests that are used to diagnose at a clinical level. This provides a high level of accuracy that provides the in-depth knowledge to take care of your sexual health. However, there are factors you can control that can help ensure this accuracy.
STD accuracy priority
When you entrust a healthcare provider or diagnostic laboratory, you want to get the most accurate results. For this reason, our laboratories are managed according to strict FDA-specified regulations and are certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments. Both certifications strive to ensure the most accurate results for all tests, including blood tests. Priority STD also ensures that the correct testing method (blood versus urine) is chosen for each disease.
What is FDA Approval?
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a nationally recognized government organization that regulates and ensures that products, events and regulations meet high public safety and health standards. The FDA also helps ensure that the public receives reliable and accurate tests based on scientific research.
What is CLIA Certification?
The Clinical laboratory improvement amendments (CLIA) are enforced by three government agencies, including the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Center for Medicaid Services (CMS). These organizations work together to perform tasks such as monitoring laboratory performance, establishing regulatory guidelines, and providing laboratories with the appropriate research and quality assurance standards.
External factors
Although these blood tests are accurate, there are a number of external factors that can affect this accuracy. However, you as a patient can help control these external factors.
User error
One of the biggest factors you can control is user error. For example, some home testing kits offer blood tests. This involves drawing your own blood and sending the sample to an STD testing laboratory. Although the laboratory has the proper equipment and training, the reliability of the sample also depends on whether the blood was collected correctly and whether the timing for returning blood to the laboratory was correct. For this reason, at-home blood tests may prove to be less accurate than visiting a doctor. However, this user error can be avoided by following the instructions on the STD test kit.
Latency
Another factor that can affect the reliability of tests is the latency periods of all STDs. A latency period is a period of time between transmission and onset during which the individual typically experiences no symptoms but is still infected. During this time, the disease has not remained in the body long enough to create the antigens that laboratory technicians look for when providing results.
For example, our laboratories look for the presence of specific antigens in the body when testing for HIV. If the body has not had enough time to respond to the disease, it is difficult to give a reliable result. For chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis, we recommend waiting approximately 6 days after the suspected transmission. However, other tests such as HIV, herpes and syphilis may benefit from a waiting period of between 10 days and 2 months. That is why it is important to stay informed about the latency periods of the STD for which you want to be tested. However, if you start to experience symptoms of an STD, it is best to get tested as soon as possible.
In general, blood tests are an accurate method for STD testing. As long as the tests are performed by a certified medical professional, there should be no cause for concern. The accuracy of your tests depends not only on the laboratory, but also on your informed decision-making. If you are performing tests at home, be sure to follow the instructions to ensure user error does not prevent reliable testing. It is also wise to stay informed of the latency times of the STD infection for which you want to be tested.