Now that you have your test results from our lab partner, Dx Your Way, you may have questions about what they mean. On your results report, you may see different terms.
These results mean that no infection was found, or what some may refer to as a “negative” result. If that is the case, see our section below Understanding a Negative Result. Testing is a great way to take care of your sexual health, but there are other things you can do.
These results mean that an infection was found, or what some may refer to as a “positive result.” If you have a positive result, you should schedule your free telehealth visit through the Dx Your Way portal or visit another health care provider. If you choose to visit a provider in person, be sure to bring along a print copy of your Dx Your Way results. Learn more about positive results for different infections in the Understanding a Positive Result section below.
Sometimes you won’t see a definitive result. You may see terms like:
This means the lab could not test the samples or get a valid result. This could be for many reasons such as postal delays, not enough sample being provided or other factors such as temperature. If your test results are inconclusive, please email Dx Your Way to request a free replacement kit.
Click on the terms below to learn more.
This result means that the initial test did detect an infection but repeat testing to confirm the result couldn’t be completed. It is recommended that a new sample be submitted to confirm the result.
This result means that the results were too low to quantify and repeat testing could not confirm the result. It is recommended that a new sample be submitted for testing.
This result means that the sample was potentially reactive (positive) but was too low to qualify. It is recommended that a new sample be submitted for testing.
In this case, the sample provided was of poor quality and no result was produced. It is recommended that a new sample be submitted for testing.
This result means the test was not performed at all. There are many reasons for this. The sample may not have been large enough to test or may have been submitted too longer after it was collected. It is recommended that a new sample be submitted for testing.
Click on the name of the specific sexually transmitted infection (STI) below to learn more about positive results.
A positive test result for chlamydia means you have the infection. Chlamydia is curable with antibiotics. It’s important to treat chlamydia early so it’s less likely to cause any health problems. A health care provider will decide which antibiotic is prescribed, taking into consideration your particular needs.
Whatever treatment is prescribed, there are some important points to remember:
Visit the DX Your Way patient portal to schedule your free telehealth consultation to discuss your results and a treatment plan.
Learn more about chlamydia, including treatment options.
A positive test result for gonorrhea means you have the infection. Gonorrhea is very common, with over 540,000 million cases reported in the U.S. each year.
Gonorrhea is curable with antibiotics. It’s important to treat gonorrhea early so it’s less likely to cause any health problems. A health care provider will decide which antibiotic is prescribed, taking into consideration your particular needs.
Whatever treatment is prescribed, there are some important points to remember:
If you still have symptoms after treatment, you should be tested again. Some treatment options require that you be tested again, too, so ask your health care provider about the need for follow-up visits.
Visit the DX Your Way patient portal to schedule your free telehealth consultation to discuss your results and a treatment plan.
Learn more about gonorrhea, including treatment options.
A positive test means the hepatitis B virus (HBV) was detected. The Hep B test does NOT distinguish between acute and chronic infection.
An acute infection with HBV typically has few (if any) symptoms and sometimes lasts only a few months. Almost all adults with acute hepatitis B recover completely and won’t develop long-term infection.
Some people develop a chronic HBV infection that lasts longer and, without treatment, can damage the liver. Chronic infection occurs most often in children, but can occur in adults.
Treatment is often not needed with an acute HCV infection but is essential for those with chronic infections.
If your test is positive, the next step is to get additional testing performed by a clinician to confirm the result and, if confirmed, stage the infection so you can be treated appropriately.
Visit the DX Your Way patient portal to schedule your free telehealth consultation to discuss your results and a treatment plan.
Learn more about HBV, including how to protect your partners.
A positive test means you have an active hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. HCV infections mainly affect the liver.
Some people experience an acute infection with HCV, typically with few (if any) symptoms and sometimes lasting only a few months. Others will develop a chronic HCV infection that lasts longer and, without treatment, can damage the liver.
Treatment is important and, if done in a timely manner, can cure most cases of HCV.
Visit the DX Your Way patient portal to schedule your free telehealth consultation to discuss your results and a treatment plan.
A positive blood test indicate whether you have HSV-1, HSV-2, or both. If a person tests positive for HSV-2, it is virtually always a genital infection. If a person tests positive for HSV-1, it may be either an oral or genital infection. The blood test can only identify the virus type, not the site of the infection. A positive HSV-1 blood test can mean an oral infection or a genital infection.
When a person has active herpes lesions (a.k.a. blisters, sores), a swab can be taken and tests can done that can detect the virus directly. A Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAAT) can identify the specific herpes virus type someone is infected with. This is how a HSV-1 genital infection could be diagnosed.
A positive test means you have the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). HSV-1 is most often associated with oral herpes (cold sores) and is very common. More than 50 percent of the adult population in the U.S. have oral herpes, almost always due to HSV-1 acquired as children from kissing a relative or friend. HSV-1 can also be experienced as a genital infection.
Many people with oral HSV-1 don’t have symptoms. Some people will experience sores on or around the lips, sometimes referred to as “cold sores.” When needed, treatment options include prescription medications and over-the-counter options. Some of the options that don’t require a prescription can slow the healing process, so be sure to talk with a health care provider to understand what’s best for you. Learn more about oral herpes, including treatment options.
A positive test means you have the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). HSV-2 is very common, with about one in eight individuals age 14-49 in the U.S. estimated to have the virus, most often as a genital infection. Approximately 90% of those with HSV-2 have no obvious symptoms and are not aware they have the infection.
Herpes is typically very manageable and seldom a risk to one’s health. In couples where one partner has HSV-2 and the other doesn’t, it’s not uncommon for them to be together for years without passing the infection on, although there is always a risk. Learn more about HSV-2, including tips on herpes and relationships.
Visit the DX Your Way patient portal to schedule your free telehealth consultation to discuss your results and a treatment plan.
A positive test means you have the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
HIV can’t be cured but there are very effective treatments. When taken as directed, treatment reduce the amount of virus in the blood (the viral load), and most people can live a long, healthy life after diagnosis. Treatment can reduce the viral load to undetectable levels, and the virus cannot be passed on to HIV-negative partners through sex. This called U=U: undetectable. equals untransmitable.
The most important thing is to talk to a health care provider as soon as possible. Work closely with health care providers to take care of yourself (and your partners, as they should be tested, too).
Visit the DX Your Way patient portal to schedule your free telehealth consultation to discuss your results and a treatment plan.
A positive test means you have one or more types of the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is very common, with almost all sexually active people having at least one HPV infection in their lifetime.
HPV tests can detect the types of the virus that, in a few cases, can increase someone’s risk for cervical cancer. With a positive result, you’ll need a visit to a health care provider and probably have more tests, just to see if you have any abnormalities that need to be treated. Following up with a health care provider in person is essential so, if needed, you can get additional testing or treatment to prevent cancer.
Visit the DX Your Way patient portal to schedule your free telehealth consultation to discuss your results and learn how to connect with a health care provider for follow up testing and/or treatment.
Diagnosing syphilis is a multi-step process. If you were tested for syphilis, you will see results for a test for Treponema pallidum Antibody (Syphilis). If this test is reactive, an additional test is done to to see if you have active infection. This will appear on your results page as RPR. If this is also reactive, that means your test is positive.
Sometimes the two tests don’t agree, and the lab may run a third “tie-breaker” test to be sure. That will appear on your results as TPPA.
If ANY of your syphilis tests (Treponema pallidum Antibody, RPR, TPPA) tests were reactive, visit the DX Your Way patient portal to schedule your free telehealth consultation or take your results to a health care provider.
Syphilis is 100% curable and timely treatment protects your health. Even if you don’t have any symptoms or think that you have syphilis, if your test results indicate syphilis infection, it’s important that you see a health care provider. Take all medications as directed, and your partners should be examined and treated, too.
Learn more about syphilis, including how to prevent future infections. Are you pregnant or thinking about it? Learn how to protect yourself and your baby and talk with a health care provider.
A positive test means you have trichomoniasis (or “trich”), a common infection caused by a parasitic protozoa called Trichomonas vaginalis. Each year, there are an estimated 2 million cases of trich in the U.S. each year, although most cases never show signs or symptoms.
Trichomoniasis can be cured with antibiotics (your sex partners need treatment, too).
Visit the DX Your Way patient portal to schedule your free telehealth consultation to discuss your results and a treatment plan.
If your test was negative (“non-reactive” or “not detected”) that means you don’t have an infection. Testing is so important, and you’ve taken a huge step in protecting not only your health, but the health of your partners, too.
It is possible to have a negative test if testing was done too soon after exposure. It takes some time for an infection to be detected, and this will vary with different STIs. For example, chlamydia and gonorrhea can typically be detected within 1-2 weeks after exposure. Antigen/antibody tests done with blood from a finger stick can usually detect HIV infection 18 to 90 days after exposure. For HSV, it may take up to 16 weeks or more for an infection to be detected. You can talk with a health care provider to get more information these testing windows.
