Chlamydia testing and treatment NYC, New York
Accurate and Confidential

Female vaginal swab

A doctor will collect a fluid sample from the vagina and/or the cervix using a thin, sterile cotton swab. This may cause mild discomfort. If the area is infected and the mucosa is fragile, swabbing might cause minor spotting afterward, though this is uncommon.

Remember: You should not use vaginal creams or douches 24 hours before this test.

Male vaginal swab

A doctor will collect a fluid sample from the vagina and/or the cervix using a thin, sterile cotton swab. This may cause mild discomfort. If the area is infected and the mucosa is fragile, swabbing might cause minor spotting afterward, though this is uncommon.

Remember: You should not use vaginal creams or douches 24 hours before this test.

Chlamydia throat swab

A doctor will use a thin, sterile Q-tip to swab the throat.

Chlamydia anal swab

A doctor will swab the inside of the anus with a thin, sterile Q-tip.

Chlamydia urine test

You will be asked to urinate into a cup (it's best to collect the first-void urine sample, which has the highest concentration of infection).

Remember: You should not urinate for at least two hours prior to the test

• You will usually get the results of a urine test back in three business days.
• You will usually get the results of a swab test is back in four business days.

Below we will discuss three scenarios for chlamydia test results and what they mean.

1. Positive chlamydia test

• If a chlamydia test (swab or urine) is positive, you have chlamydia. You will need to notify your sexual partner and receive appropriate medical care.

2. Negative chlamydia test

If a chlamydia test is negative, that generally means you do not have chlamydia. However, keep two things in mind:

• Timing: Has enough time passed after the sexual encounter? Two to three weeks after exposure is the ideal time to test for chlamydia.
• Accuracy: Different tests have different levels of accuracy. The urine test has 98.3% accuracy, whereas the swab test has 94.3% accuracy.

3. Inconclusive or equivocal chlamydia test

If the chlamydia test results are inconclusive, you will need to take another test. Make sure:

• The ideal test is performed (swab).
• The chlamydia test is performed after the ideal incubation period (two to three weeks).
• Both an alternative test and the test that had inconclusive results are performed.

Yes. This is called empiric treatment, which is when treatment is initiated based on assumptions and clinical experience without a formal diagnosis and STD testing results. Empiric treatment can be provided to the following people:

• People who have symptoms of chlamydia, including penile or vaginal discharge, painful and frequent urination, or bleeding from the genitals after sexual intercourse or between menstrual periods.
• People who have had a sexual encounter with an infected person (even if they do not have symptoms).
• People who have tested positive for gonorrhea.

(The incubation period is shorter than chlamydia and it is diagnosed earlier. 24% of heterosexual males and 38% of females who have chlamydia are also positive for gonorrhea.)

• People who have had a sexual encounter with someone who has chlamydia.
• People who are anxious about chlamydia. (It is best to avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics; however, if you are worried about your STD status, you can get the medication from your healthcare provider.)

You can get chlamydia testing and other STD testing services at primary care offices, urgent care clinics, GYN clinics, planned parenthood health centers, free sexual health clinics, and our specialized walk-in STD clinic in Manhattan.
For more sites, check the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Map of clinics located in NYC that offer STD testing.

Chlamydia can affect the oral, genital and rectal areas. If your infected fluids come into contact with your partner’s mucosa, you can transmit chlamydia to them. Below are some ways to prevent this:

• Do not let your infected area touch anyone else’s skin while you are experiencing chlamydia symptoms or for seven days after treatment.
• Do not share sex toys.
• Wash your hands with soap after touching your infected area.

You should notify any sex partners you have had within the last 60 days that you tested positive for chlamydia and suggest that they get tested as well. This can prevent further spread. If you are uncomfortable telling them, we can anonymously notify them on your behalf with a call, text or email.

Yes. This is another reason you should notify your partner(s) and suggest that they get tested and treated if necessary.

Yes, health insurance usually covers the doctor’s office visit, STI testing and treatment. If you have a high deductible insurance plan and want to know your exact contribution for the testing, please call your insurance company and find out your contribution for the primary care office visit and chlamydia testing.

If you do not have health insurance, the cost of the office visit is $84 cash (or $90 credit) plus $60 for the testing. All tests for sexually transmitted diseases are performed by certified labs.

Pharyngeal (oral) chlamydia is a common STD that affects up to 1.4% of men who have sex with men (MSMs) and 3%–4% of heterosexual males and females. According to international guidelines, the oral swab test for chlamydia is recommended for the following people:

• Those who have symptoms of oral chlamydia (swollen, red pharynx, fever, pus-filled patches on the throat, etc.)
• Those who have engaged in oral sex with a potentially infected person

According to the CDC, the oral chlamydia screening test is recommended for the following people:

• MSMs who have performed oral sex in the last year. Moreover, it is recommended that MSMs who use methamphetamine, have multiple sexual partners, or have a partner with chlamydia get a screening every three to six months.
• People with HIV

Remember: Chlamydia bacteria are stored locally (in mucosal cells of the area of exposure), and pharyngeal chlamydia cannot be identified with a genital swab, urine test or blood test.

Our walk-in clinic for STD testing and treatment is conveniently located on the east side of Midtown Manhattan near the Grand Central Terminal and the Main branch of the New York City public library.
Despite it being our only STD testing center, we offer health services to New Yorkers from all zip codes across all 5 NYC boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island.
Our certified STD center offers testing services for chlamydia and other STDs (including syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes, HIV, HPV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C), along with quality treatment and follow-up care.