She said that there are only so many things that the tests can detect. She said there's so many more stds that may not be picked up. I asked her what ones and the only one she told me was warts. What other ones could you have and they don't have a test for? Now I'm scared.
2006-10-24 12:32:59 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ STDs
There are simply some conditions for which there is no test available; or which your insurance most likely won't cover. For example, it is unlikely your insurance would cover tests for Hepatitis C, which is transmissible though sex, but which is a very uncommon disease for an ordinary person to get, if there is no opportunity for occupational exposure.
There are some conditions which can only be diagnosed or detected if the disease is "active". This includes some viruses, for example, Herpes type 1 & 2. There is a test for the virus, but this test is of limited accuracy if an outbreak is not occuring.
Some viruses/bacteria can be detected when there are no obvious signs of disease. HIV is detectable before some of the symptoms become noticeable from a visual examination.
Most importantly: it takes a while between infection and detectability.
This is why people harp about safe sex. You could get infected, and be able to transmit something, before you realize you have it. This is because any lab test requires a certain concentration of material, in order to have a "positive" test. If the infection has not progressed to the point of providing enough material for the test, it will show up as negative, even though you have it. This is why you should get some tests repeated at specified times, especially HIV. If you're negative this month, you might be positive next year.
A really good central point for information is from the CDC's infectious disease webpage (address below).
2006-10-24 14:40:46 · answer #1 · answered by Elizabeth S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can test for the high-risk strain of the virus that causes cancerous cervical changes -- but this strain of the HPV (wart) virus doesn't manifest itself as wart.
Genital warts (which is considered low-risk as it doesn't pose any significant health problems) cannot be diagnosed unless you have growths present. Unfortunately, it can take may months and in some cases a year for the virus to manifest itself. Using condoms help, but it still doesn't completely protect you from contracting gential warts, same as genital herpes. Both are very common (about 80% of sexually active persons will come into contact with it at some point in their life). If you were to contract it though, it is treatable and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that your immune system eventually gets the virus under control so that you are no longer contagious. There is some debate as to whether the virus is totally eradicated from your system or whether it is just lying dormant. In my opinion, once you contract the virus, you have it for life (it is a virus after all) but after a certain amount of time, you won't be contagious anymore.
2006-10-24 19:45:48 · answer #2 · answered by SnakeCharmer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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No test for any STD is 100% accurate. Some STDs don't show up right away. It could take an infection anywhere from a couple of days to a few years to show up in testing. But if you think you have a STD, get tested. You may have to go back again to get tested if you test negative. Even if you test negative, keep practicing safer sex. Talk to your health care provider about speaking with a counselor if you have concerns. >>
2006-10-24 19:40:17 · answer #3 · answered by luv2ridebarebak 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
EVERY TIME WHEN YOU GO TO TH GYN GET A BLOOD TEST BECAUSE THEY R MORE LIKELY TO SHOW N E DISEASE, AND EVERYTHING SHOWS UP IN YOUR BLOOD.
2006-10-25 09:54:50 · answer #4 · answered by thyckness89 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
condoms. that's all i can say
2006-10-24 21:23:22 · answer #5 · answered by 1 Hott Mami 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋