Quick Guide

A chlamydia pee test checks your urine for Chlamydia trachomatis, the bacteria that causes chlamydia. It uses nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) to find bacterial DNA in your sample. Most chlamydia infections don’t cause symptoms, so testing is the only reliable way to know your status.

If you recently had unprotected sex or think you were exposed to chlamydia, you can still get tested. NAAT can pick up Chlamydia trachomatis DNA as early as one to two weeks after exposure. A test taken before that window may come back negative even if you’re infected. If your first result is negative but you had a confirmed exposure, retest after the window has passed. You don’t need to fast or follow a special diet, though you’ll want to hold your urine for at least two hours before collection.

About Our Chlamydia Urine Test

Purpose of the test

Chlamydia is the most commonly reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the U.S., with approximately 1.5 million reported cases in 2024 (provisional), according to CDC STI surveillance data. Most people who have it don’t know it. That’s why this test exists: you can’t tell by symptoms alone.

  • Screening: The CDC recommends annual chlamydia screening for sexually active people at higher risk, including young women and those with new or multiple partners.
  • Diagnosis: This test confirms or rules out chlamydia as the cause of symptoms like burning urination, unusual discharge, or pelvic pain.

Untreated chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, and pregnancy complications. Testing catches it before those problems develop.

This test detects chlamydia in the urogenital tract only. It won’t find an infection in your throat or rectum. It doesn’t screen for gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, or other STIs unless you order those separately.

What does our chlamydia urine test measure?

NAAT on a urine sample detects Chlamydia trachomatis DNA. NAAT is the standard method at Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified labs for urogenital chlamydia, as outlined in the CDC’s laboratory detection recommendations.

Here’s how the main testing methods compare:

  • NAAT on urine: What this test covers. Finds Chlamydia trachomatis DNA from a urine sample. The standard for urogenital chlamydia at CLIA-certified labs.
  • NAAT on swab (vaginal, rectal, or throat): Same DNA detection method, different sample site. Needed if you had oral or anal sex with someone who may have been infected.
  • Chlamydia culture: Grows the bacteria from a swab. Rarely used for routine testing, mostly in research or suspected treatment failure.

Vaginal swab NAAT has slightly higher sensitivity than urine in women, but the difference is clinically modest for most people.

If you’re only concerned about a urogenital infection, urine NAAT is the right starting point. For other sites, a swab test is required.

When should I get a chlamydia urine test?

Consider testing if any of these apply:

  • Burning, pain, or unusual discharge during urination
  • A current pregnancy
  • A new sex partner or multiple sex partners
  • A possible exposure to chlamydia
  • A sexual partner recently diagnosed with chlamydia or another STI
  • Pelvic pain or pain during sex
  • Unusual genital or anal discharge

For routine screening, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the CDC recommend annual chlamydia screening for:

  • All sexually active women under 25
  • Women 25 and older with risk factors like a new partner, multiple partners, a partner with an STI, or inconsistent condom use
  • Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) at all exposed sites; every three to six months if at higher risk
  • Screening is not recommended for men without symptoms
  • Pregnant women at the first prenatal visit, with rescreening in the third trimester if under 25 or at higher risk
  • Anyone diagnosed with HIV, at the first HIV check and yearly after

Chlamydia can pass to a newborn during delivery. That’s why screening during pregnancy matters even without symptoms.

How It Works

How to get tested

You can order this test through Testing.com without a provider visit. After ordering, visit a nearby patient service center at a CLIA-certified lab, including LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics locations. You provide a urine sample on-site, and results go to your secure online account. You can compare tests by cost, turnaround time, and privacy before you order.

Prefer to test privately at home? Our at-home chlamydia test ships a self-collection kit with prepaid return shipping. The kit includes instructions, collection materials, and results through a secure online portal. It’s a good option if you’d rather not visit a lab.

You can get tested through a provider’s office or clinic too, if you have an existing care relationship.

Before the test

Don’t urinate for at least two hours before your sample collection. This is the most important prep step. Urinating shortly before the test dilutes Chlamydia trachomatis DNA in your urine, which can lower NAAT sensitivity and cause a false negative.

No fasting is required. Eat and drink normally.

If you accidentally urinate within the two-hour window, tell the staff before you provide your sample. The test may still be run, but accuracy could be lower. Staff can advise whether to proceed or reschedule.

Bring a list of current medications if you’re visiting a provider’s office, in case it’s relevant to your care.

During the test

A staff member gives you a labeled collection cup and directs you to a private restroom.

Start urinating, then collect the first portion of the stream into the cup. Stop after about 20 to 30 mL. That’s roughly the first few seconds of flow. Don’t use a midstream sample.

The first part of your urine stream carries the highest concentration of urethral and cervical cells, along with any Chlamydia trachomatis DNA. A midstream sample dilutes that concentration and can make the test less likely to catch an infection.

Seal the cup and hand it to staff. There’s no blood draw, no swab, and no physical exam. The whole process takes a few minutes.

If you have questions about collecting the sample, ask the staff before you start.

After the test

Results are ready within one to three business days. You’ll get an email when they’re available in your secure online account.

If you ordered through a provider’s office, timing may vary. Check with your ordering provider if you’re unsure when to expect them.

What do my results mean?

NAAT results are reported as “detected” or “not detected.” Some lab systems use “positive” or “negative” instead. Both mean the same thing.

If your results are negative

No Chlamydia trachomatis DNA was found in your urine sample. If you haven’t had any recent exposure, a negative result is reassuring.

But if you tested within one to two weeks of a possible exposure, the infection may not have been detectable yet. Retest after the window if your exposure was confirmed or symptoms develop.

A negative urine result doesn’t rule out chlamydia at other body sites. If you had oral or anal sex with someone who may have been infected, you’d need a separate swab test for the throat or rectum. If symptoms continue despite a negative result, talk with your provider about further testing.

If your results are positive

Chlamydia was detected in your urine sample. The good news: chlamydia is curable. Most infections clear with a standard course of antibiotics. The CDC’s 2021 STI Treatment Guidelines recommend doxycycline as the first-line regimen, with azithromycin listed as an alternative.

Don’t have sex until you and your partner or partners have finished treatment and are confirmed clear. Reinfection is common when partners aren’t treated at the same time. Notify recent sexual partners so they can get tested and treated too.

NAAT is highly accurate, and confirmatory testing isn’t usually needed. If the result surprises you, talk with your provider about next steps. Untreated chlamydia raises the risk of transmitting or getting HIV, one more reason to treat it promptly.

FAQs

Can I get chlamydia again after being treated?

Yes. You can get reinfected if you’re exposed again. Make sure all partners are tested and treated before you resume sexual activity. Get tested again if you have a new exposure or new symptoms.

Is a urine test for chlamydia as accurate for women as a swab?

Urine NAAT is accurate for women and widely used. Vaginal swab NAAT has slightly higher sensitivity, but the difference is clinically modest. If you have symptoms or a known exposure, either method works as a starting point. Ask your provider if you’re unsure which fits your situation.

Why are chlamydia and gonorrhea often tested together?

They share the same transmission routes, often occur together, and cause overlapping symptoms. Having one raises the likelihood of the other. A single urine sample can screen for both, which is why they’re frequently ordered at the same time.

What if I accidentally urinated before the two-hour window?

Tell the staff before you provide your sample. Urinating shortly before collection dilutes the bacterial DNA in your urine, which can lower accuracy. Staff can advise whether to proceed or reschedule.

Does a positive chlamydia urine test mean I also have a throat or rectal infection?

No. A urine test finds chlamydia in the urogenital tract only. If you had oral or anal sex with someone who may have been infected, you need a separate swab test for those sites.

I'm pregnant. Should I get tested for chlamydia?

Yes. The CDC recommends screening at the first prenatal visit for all pregnant women, with rescreening in the third trimester for those under 25 or at higher risk. Untreated chlamydia during pregnancy can pass to the newborn during delivery, causing serious health problems, as described in MedlinePlus chlamydia information.

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