Sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing is among the best way to protect yourself and your sex partners from infections. But, STD tests are not always 100% reliable. You can have a negative STD result when you have an STD. With the extensive impact of some STDs on the health like cancer and fertility issues, you may think that you can’t have an STD and not know, but false results are common.
STD testing helps you know if you have an STD to get treatment if necessary, but the result may be inaccurate in some cases. A false negative STD result may occur if you test early, get the wrong test, and for several other reasons. Research shows that about one in five people with STDs are not aware that they have an STD, and some people who have had STI tests fall under this category. Some reasons why your negative STI test may be inaccurate include:
You may not have gotten tested
Many people think that their healthcare provider carries out screening for STDs during their annual exam, but this is not always the case. Many healthcare providers do not offer regular STD screening.
The only way to confirm if you’re getting STD tests is to ask the provider to perform the test. If you had a known exposure to an STD, ensure you inform your provider. Talk about your sexual history, including present and past partners, how you engage in sex, the preventive measures you take and the number of sex partners you have. This information can guide your provider in offering you the right STD tests.
You may have done the test too early
Some STD tests do not diagnose new infections. For example, a 2014 study found that the standard syphilis blood test is not effective for detecting early syphilis infection. Some STD tests, such as the HIV test, check for antibodies produced by the body in response to the infection and not the virus that causes the infection.
Antibodies are specific proteins produced by the immune system to fight off an infection. Antibody tests are more likely to have an error because it takes a while for the antibodies to accumulate to detectable levels.
The test gave an inaccurate result
The accuracy of diagnostic tests is based on specificity and sensitivity. Most tests do not guarantee 100% accuracy. An STD test’s ability to give a result depends partly on the population on which the test is carried out.
Most tests effectively detect infection but may still give false-negative and false-positive results. These results can give a problem and what you have to worry about depends on the disease and what the test is for.
You got a wrong test
All diagnostic tests have a trade-off between specificity and sensitivity and may be more or less accurate depending on the population and the circumstances. A completely accurate test may not always be available, so healthcare providers use the available test, which offers a less accurate diagnosis.
Your provider didn’t test for the STD you have
Some diseases do not have commercial tests. Some providers do not bother testing for certain STDs because they are less likely to lead to serious health issues even without treatment.
For instance, many health care providers do not offer testing for molluscum contagiosum because the infection usually runs its course without causing harm. Many providers do not also test for anal cancer, rectal chlamydia and other rectal STDs.
Testing for some STDs may not be common because the STDs rarely occur. Some providers may also feel uncomfortable asking about your sexual history to determine if you are at risk.
For a reliable STD testing in London, visit STI Clinic today. You can also call us on 020 7183 0649 to book an appointment for confidential STD testing.
