About Our Gonorrhea Urine Test

Purpose of the test

A gonorrhea test confirms or rules out the presence of active Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). Most people who have gonorrhea don’t know it. Testing is the only reliable way to find out.

Screening: The CDC recommends routine gonorrhea screening for sexually active people at higher risk, including all sexually active women under 25 and gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men (MSM).
Diagnosis: Testing is prompted by symptoms like burning urination, unusual discharge, genital discomfort, or by a known or possible exposure.

Gonorrhea often shows no symptoms, and if left untreated, can lead to serious complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility in women and men, infection of the joints and potentially other body areas, increase susceptibility to HIV, and pregnancy complications, including passing the infection to a newborn. See CDC gonorrhea disease information. That’s why testing matters even when you feel fine.

The urine test doesn’t detect gonorrhea that has infected other body areas. It won’t screen for chlamydia, syphilis, HIV, or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) unless you order those separately. Gonorrhea is a nationally notifiable disease, so positive results are reported to local or state health authorities as required by law.

What does our gonorrhea urine test measure?

Labs use several methods to detect gonorrhea. Here’s how they differ:

Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT): Detects Neisseria gonorrhoeae DNA from a first-catch urine sample. It’s the most accurate option for diagnosing urogenital gonorrhea, according to CDC laboratory detection recommendations. High sensitivity means it catches most active infections. A negative result on a sample collected too early may not reflect your true status.
Swab NAAT: Same DNA detection method, different sample site. Required for throat, rectal gonorrhea. A urine sample won’t detect infections at those sites.
Gonococcal culture: Grows the bacteria from a swab so the lab can perform antibiotic susceptibility testing to check which antibiotics will work. Used when antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea is suspected.
Gram stain: A quick microscope check that can spot gonorrhea in men with urethral symptoms and cervical secretions from women. Less accurate than NAAT and rarely used as a primary method today.

Urine NAAT is validated for urogenital infections and has been used with rectal and pharyngeal samples. If you had oral or anal sex and are concerned about infection at those sites, a swab of the affected area is taken.

When should I get a gonorrhea urine test?

Consider testing if any of these apply:

A current pregnancy, especially if under 25
A possible exposure to gonorrhea
A prior STI diagnosis
A sexual partner recently diagnosed with gonorrhea or another STI
Inconsistent condom use
New or multiple sex partners
Symptoms like burning urination, unusual discharge, or genital soreness

For routine screening, the CDC’s STI screening recommendations call for annual gonorrhea screening for:

All sexually active women under 25
Women 25 and older with new partners, multiple partners, a partner with an STI, or inconsistent condom use
Gay, bisexual, and other MSM at all exposed sites; at least annually, and every three to six months if at higher risk
Pregnant people at the first prenatal visit, and again in the third trimester if under 25 or at higher risk
Anyone diagnosed with HIV, at the first HIV evaluation and annually after

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force also recommends screening for gonorrhea in sexually active women at increased risk, reinforcing these guidelines.

How It Works

How to get tested

You can order this test through Testing.com without a provider visit. We work with CLIA-certified labs, including LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics. You can compare tests by cost, turnaround time, and privacy before ordering. After you order online, visit a nearby patient service center to give your urine sample. Results go to a secure online account, and you’ll get an email when they’re ready.

Prefer to test privately at home? Our at-home gonorrhea test ships a urine collection kit with prepaid return shipping.

You can go through a provider’s office, too. Keep in mind: if you’re concerned about a throat or rectal infection, you’ll need a swab at a clinic or doctor’s office. The urine test doesn’t cover those sites.

Before the test

Don’t urinate for at least two hours before you collect your sample. This is the single most important prep step. Urinating flushes bacterial DNA out of the urethra, lowering the concentration in your sample. If you accidentally urinate before your appointment, wait as long as possible before collecting. Reschedule if the wait would be less than one hour.

No fasting required. No dietary restrictions either. Bring a valid ID to the patient service center. If you’re taking antibiotics for any reason, let the lab staff know. Antibiotics may affect your results.

During the test

At the patient service center, a staff member gives you a sterile collection cup. You collect the first portion of your urine stream, not the middle or end. This is called a first-catch sample. It’s the part of the stream richest in urethral secretions, where bacterial DNA is most likely to be found.

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

No restrictions after you leave. You can eat, drink, and go about your day. But if your symptoms are getting worse, like burning, discharge, or pelvic pain, don’t wait for results. Contact your provider right away.

After the test

Results are usually ready within one to three business days after the lab receives your sample. You’ll get an email when they’re available in your secure online account. If your test was ordered through a provider’s office, timing may vary.

What Do My Results Mean?

If your results are negative

No gonorrhea DNA was found in your urine sample. That’s reassuring, but keep the window period in mind. If you collected your sample within one to two weeks of a possible exposure, the infection may not have been detectable yet. An early negative doesn’t rule out infection.

If your symptoms continue or if you know you have been exposed, retesting after the window makes sense. A negative urine result doesn’t cover throat or rectal gonorrhea. It doesn’t screen for chlamydia, syphilis, HIV, or other STIs either.

If your results are positive

Gonorrhea was detected in your urine sample. The good news: gonorrhea is curable with antibiotics. Most people recover when they complete the full course. Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern, so finishing every dose matters.

Avoid sexual activity until treatment is complete, and your provider confirms the infection is cleared. Notify recent sexual partners so they can get tested and treated. Reinfection is common when both partners aren’t treated at the same time.

If the result was unexpected, a second NAAT or gonococcal culture helps rule out a false positive before treatment begins. Contact your provider or a telehealth service promptly. Testing.com doesn’t provide treatment. Positive results are reported to local or state health departments as required by law.

FAQs

Can a urine test detect gonorrhea in the throat or rectum?

No. A urine test detects gonorrhea only in the urogenital tract. Throat or rectal infections require a swab from those sites. If you had oral or anal sex and are concerned, ask a clinic about swab-based NAAT testing.

Does a gonorrhea urine test also check for chlamydia?

No. This test checks for gonorrhea only. Chlamydia requires a separate test or a combined gonorrhea and chlamydia panel. Co-infection is common, so providers often order both together.

How accurate is a urine test for gonorrhea?

For urogenital gonorrhea, urine NAAT has high sensitivity and specificity. It catches most active infections and produces few false positives. Swab NAAT is equally accurate for urogenital sites and is required for throat or rectal infections. Accuracy drops if you collect your sample too soon after exposure, before bacterial DNA reaches detectable levels.

Can I get reinfected with gonorrhea after treatment?

Yes. Prior infection doesn’t create immunity. Reinfection is common if both partners aren’t treated at the same time. The CDC recommends retesting three months after treatment to check for reinfection.

Will my gonorrhea test results be shared with anyone?

Results go to your secure online account and aren’t shared with other people. Gonorrhea is a nationally notifiable disease, so positive results are reported to local or state health authorities as required by law. This is a legal requirement, not a choice made by the lab or Testing.com.

Can I get gonorrhea while pregnant, and can it affect my baby?

Yes. Gonorrhea can pass to a baby during delivery and cause serious complications. The MedlinePlus gonorrhea resource notes that screening and early treatment are essential during pregnancy to prevent transmission to the newborn.

Does having herpes antibodies mean you have herpes?

A positive antibody result means your immune system has been exposed to the virus at some point or you currently have herpes. For example, a positive result on a HSV-1 IgG test suggests prior exposure to either or both HSV-1 and/or HSV-2.

However, it does not confirm when the infection occurred or whether symptoms will develop. A provider can help interpret the HSV-1 test results range and explain what your results may mean for your situation.

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