Ultimate STD Panel (13 Tests)

About the Full Panel STD Test

Purpose of the test

Most STIs don’t cause symptoms. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are frequently asymptomatic, so testing is often the only way to know your status. A complete STI panel screens for active or recent infections across multiple pathogens in one visit.

When symptoms do show up, they can mimic other conditions. Burning urination, unusual discharge, flu-like illness, or genital sores can all come from yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis (BV), urinary tract infections (UTIs), or mpox. A panel helps sort out what’s actually going on.

• Screening: The CDC recommends regular STI screening for sexually active adults at higher risk, including all sexually active women under 25 and men who have sex with men.
• Diagnosis: Testing makes sense when symptoms like unusual discharge, painful urination, or genital sores are present, or after a possible exposure.

There are a few things the panel doesn’t cover. Urine-based NAAT won’t detect throat or rectal gonorrhea or chlamydia; those require swabs collected at a clinic. HPV (human papillomavirus) has no blood test for most adults. It’s found through cervical screening or visual exam. Herpes testing isn’t universally included in standard panels. The CDC’s herpes testing guidance notes that routine herpes IgG screening isn’t recommended for asymptomatic adults because the test has a meaningful false-positive rate, and a positive result without symptoms can cause real distress without clear clinical benefit.

What does the full panel STD test measure?

This panel covers 11 markers from a single visit at a CLIA-certified lab. It uses two detection methods: nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) on urine for bacterial and parasitic infections, and blood-based immunoassays for viral infections. That’s why both a blood draw and a urine sample are required.

Viral Infection Tests

• HIV Type 1 and 2, 4th-Generation Duo Antigen Antibody Test: Detects both HIV-1 and HIV-2 by looking for the p24 antigen and antibodies in your blood. It’s the current CDC-recommended standard for HIV screening because it catches infection earlier than older antibody-only tests. A reactive result typically needs confirmatory testing. The detection window is roughly 18 to 45 days.
• Herpes Type 1 (HSV-1) IgG Test: Looks for IgG antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1, which most commonly causes oral herpes (cold sores) but can cause genital infections too. A positive result means you’ve been exposed at some point. It doesn’t tell you when or where. Because HSV-1 is very common and often picked up in childhood, discuss a positive result with your provider.
• Herpes Type 2 (HSV-2) IgG Test: Detects IgG antibodies to HSV-2, the type most commonly linked to genital herpes. Antibodies may take up to 12 weeks or longer to develop after exposure, so early testing may miss a recent infection. A positive result without symptoms can be tricky to interpret. Your provider can walk you through what it means.
• Hepatitis A IgM Antibody Test: Checks for IgM antibodies to a recent hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection. IgM antibodies appear early, so a positive result points to current or very recent exposure. Hepatitis A spreads through contaminated food or water and close contact. Most people recover fully. Your provider can guide next steps if your result is positive.
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Test: Looks for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), which signals an active HBV infection, either new or ongoing. Most people with hepatitis B don’t notice symptoms early on. A positive result means the virus is present and you could pass it to others. Follow-up testing checks whether the infection is acute or chronic.
• Hepatitis C Antibody Test: Detects antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV). A reactive result means your immune system responded to HCV at some point, but it doesn’t confirm an active infection on its own. Confirmatory RNA testing is the next step. The detection window for HCV antibodies is roughly eight to 11 weeks.

Bacterial Infection Tests

• Chlamydia Test, urine: NAAT on a urine sample detects Chlamydia trachomatis DNA. It’s the preferred method for diagnosing chlamydia, per the CDC’s chlamydia treatment guidelines, because of its high sensitivity. Most people with chlamydia have no symptoms. Chlamydia is treatable with antibiotics. Urine NAAT won’t detect chlamydia in the throat or rectum.
• Gonorrhea Test, urine: NAAT on urine detects Neisseria gonorrhoeae DNA. Gonorrhea is often asymptomatic, especially in people with a cervix. It’s treatable with antibiotics, though antibiotic resistance is an ongoing concern. Urine NAAT won’t detect throat or rectal gonorrhea; those sites need swabs.
• Syphilis, RPR Test: The Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) test detects antibodies your body produces in response to syphilis. A reactive RPR doesn’t confirm syphilis on its own. It typically needs confirmatory treponemal testing (FTA-ABS or TPPA). The detection window is roughly three to six weeks. Syphilis is treatable with antibiotics, most commonly penicillin.
• Mycoplasma genitalium Test: Detects Mycoplasma genitalium, a bacterium increasingly recognized as a cause of urethritis (inflammation of the urethra) and pelvic infections. Many people have no symptoms. It’s not yet part of standard CDC screening guidelines, but expanded panels include it because it’s hard to treat if missed and antibiotic resistance is growing.
• Trichomoniasis Test: Screens for Trichomonas vaginalis, a parasite that causes trichomoniasis (also called “trich”). According to MedlinePlus, trichomoniasis is one of the most common curable STIs — learn more about trichomoniasis testing. Most people don’t know they’re infected. Trichomoniasis is treatable with antibiotics. The detection window is roughly five to 28 days.

When should I get a full panel STD test?

Consider testing if any of these apply:

• A possible STI exposure through unprotected sex
• A new sexual partner or multiple partners
• A prior STI diagnosis
• A sexual partner recently diagnosed with an STI
• A current pregnancy, especially if under 25 or with new partners
• Inconsistent condom use
• Symptoms like burning urination, unusual discharge, or genital sores

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

• All sexually active women under 25: annual chlamydia and gonorrhea screening
• Women 25 and older with risk factors (new partner, multiple partners, partner with an STI): annual chlamydia and gonorrhea screening
• Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM): at least annual syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea screening at all exposed sites; every three to six months if at higher risk
• Pregnant women: screening at the first prenatal visit, with rescreening in the third trimester if under 25 or at higher risk
• All sexually active people ages 13 to 64: at least one HIV test; annually if at higher risk