When to test for STIs
Many people with STIs have no symptoms. If you think you may have an STI, then we recommend that you get tested.
Most STIs don't show in a test straight away. So you need to wait a few weeks before a test will be accurate. This time is called the window period. The window periods are different for different infections.
If you're not sure about window periods, you should do a test now, and another test at a later date.
How long does it take for STIs to show in tests?
These are the window periods for the at-home tests we use.
chlamydia: 2 weeks
gonorrhoea: 2 weeks
HIV: 7 weeks
hepatitis B: 12 weeks
hepatitis C: 12 weeks
syphilis: 12 weeks
Hepatitis C can sometimes take up to 9 months to show in a test, so if you're not sure when you might have been exposed, do a test now, and another test in 9 months.
If you may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, do not wait to test. Get immediate advice on taking PEP.
