STD

Private Sexual Health Screens

Discreet, confidential, and accurate STD screening from our CQC-registered clinic. Every screen includes a private GP pre-test consultation, sample collection, accredited UK laboratory analysis, and written GP comments on your results. Suitable for individuals and couples aged 18 and over.

A £25 prepayment is taken at booking and fully deducted from each package price.

Compare at a glance

Silver — £160

A focused entry-level check for the UK's two most common bacterial STIs — Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea (both by PCR). A good choice if you want an affordable check after a recent partner change with no other risk factors, or routine reassurance with no symptoms.

Gold — £250

Adds HIV (4th-gen antigen/antibody), Syphilis antibodies (IgG/IgM), Hepatitis B surface antigen, and Hepatitis C antibody. A good choice if you've had unprotected sex, are starting a new relationship, or want broad reassurance covering the most clinically important bacterial and bloodborne STIs in one visit.

Platinum — £375

Our most comprehensive panel, adding an extended PCR panel for Mycoplasma (genitalium and hominis), Ureaplasma urealyticum, Trichomonas vaginalis, Treponema pallidum, Haemophilus ducreyi, and Herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2). For those wanting the broadest screening available, or where more unusual organisms may be clinically relevant.

How testing works

Testing uses a urine sample, self-collected swab, and (from Gold onwards) a small blood sample. Your GP will discuss which samples are right for you at the pre-test consultation, including extra-genital sites (throat, rectum) if relevant to your sexual history. Most results are available within 72 hours.

Window periods matter

Testing too early after exposure can give a falsely negative result. As a guide:

• Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, Trichomonas (PCR): from 2 weeks

• HIV (4th-gen): highly reliable from 4 weeks, definitive at 6 weeks

• Syphilis: detectable from 4 weeks, full reliability at 12 weeks

• Hepatitis B: from around 6 weeks

• Hepatitis C: from 8–12 weeks, definitive at 6 months

• Herpes PCR: most accurate when an active lesion is swabbed

Your GP will advise on timing at the pre-test consultation.

Important: Herpes, Mycoplasma, and Ureaplasma

Herpes (HSV) screening is not routinely recommended internationally for asymptomatic patients, as PCR has lower sensitivity without active lesions and results can be hard to interpret. We offer it within Platinum for completeness, after informed discussion.

Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum are commonly part of normal genital flora — a positive result does not always require treatment. Your GP will explain results in clinical context, and treatment is only offered where clinically indicated.

Completely confidential

Results are not shared with your NHS GP or any third party unless you specifically ask. Confidentiality follows GMC guidance, with limited exceptions for safeguarding or statutory disclosure (e.g. Syphilis and acute viral hepatitis are notifiable in England). Where any disclosure is required, we will discuss it with you first wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Symptoms?

If you have any symptoms — discharge, pain on passing urine, unusual bleeding, sores, ulcers, rash, or pelvic or testicular pain — please book a GP consultation rather than a screening test alone, as symptomatic infections need a different clinical pathway.

Treatment and partner notification

If a result is positive, your GP will discuss treatment with you. Straightforward bacterial infections are usually managed in-house with a short course of antibiotics. HIV, Syphilis, and viral hepatitis are referred confidentially to specialist services for confirmation and treatment. We can also support partner notification anonymously through national services.

Before you book

• Aged 18 or over only

• Do not urinate for at least 1 hour before a urine sample

• Tell your GP about any antibiotics in the past 4 weeks

• Tell your GP about Hepatitis B vaccination status

• Tell your GP about any recent possible exposure so window periods can be considered

• Screening is not a diagnostic guarantee; a negative result reflects the test taken at that point in time

Clinical follow-up

From £50 (phone/video) or £80 (in person) to discuss results or plan treatment. Urgent results are communicated promptly at no extra charge.

About our service

Northwest Health is registered with and regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our laboratory partner is UKAS-accredited to ISO 15189 standards.