ACTION REFERENCE / MATCH THE TEST TO THE CONTACT
Whether to test at all is a decision a clinic can help with. What matters is direct contact with someone who has a confirmed result, whether a barrier was used and stayed intact, any symptoms, and whether the contact is ongoing. Sharing a partner is not the same as direct contact. Guidance differs between countries and regions, and the infection pages say where it does.
| Question | Useful test or action |
|---|---|
Genital chlamydia / gonorrhea | Validated genital NAAT: vaginal swab or first-pass urine as appropriate. [13][16] |
Receptive anal exposure | Discuss rectal chlamydia/gonorrhea NAAT. A urine test does not exclude rectal infection. [61] |
Oral exposure | Throat gonorrhea testing may be important. Routine throat Mgen, Ureaplasma or trichomonas testing is not indicated. [02][08][16][24] |
Persistent urethritis / cervicitis | Targeted assessment may include Mgen-specific NAAT and resistance testing. [01][10] |
New ulcer, vesicle or rash | Examination; lesion testing for HSV/mpox when indicated and syphilis testing rather than a generic swab alone. [21][34][56] |
Possible blood-borne infection | HIV test matched to timing; HBV triple panel; HCV antibody with reflex RNA or direct RNA when indicated. [33][43][66] |
Diarrhea after relevant contact | Stool testing, with culture/susceptibility when needed. A genital panel is not a substitute. [57][59] |
Choose prevention that fits the route
Use a new appropriate barrier for each partner and relevant change in activity; use compatible lubricant and avoid blood or fecal transfer between bodies and equipment. Barrier-protected intercourse does not make separate oral, skin-to-skin or shared-equipment contact protected. [52][58][62][64]
Review HPV and hepatitis A/B vaccination, and mpox vaccination when indicated. HIV PrEP can be appropriate for ongoing exposure opportunities. Doxy-PEP is not a universal prevention recommendation: CDC guidance is population-specific, with limited evidence for several other groups and important resistance considerations. [29][38][50][53][63][71]
Screening is not the same as a test of cure
Chlamydia and gonorrhea usually call for a three-month retest for reinfection. Throat gonorrhea is rechecked with a test of cure at 7-14 days. Mgen follow-up depends on the regimen, symptoms and local guidance. Routine screening without symptoms for Mgen, Ureaplasma or HSV antibodies cannot promise a risk-free network. [01][08][13][16][34]
Testing intervals should reflect actual practices, age/anatomy, prevention medication and local recommendations. Some higher-exposure groups benefit from 3-6-month screening, but that does not mean every organism should be included on every panel. [61]
Waiting periods before sex after treatment, infection by infection, are on When sex can resume after treatment.