What Is Included in a Full STI Panel?

Did you know? Occurrences of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have been on the rise in Canada for the last decade or more, and yet a 2018 survey found that 50% of sexually active Canadians have never been tested for one. 

Sexually transmitted infections are caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites that are spread through sexual contact and, in some cases, from mother to child during pregnancy or birth. STIs were formerly commonly known as a sexually transmitted disease (STD), but the name was changed to infection to reduce stigma and account for the fact that many infections are asymptomatic.

STIs are preventable with safe-sex practices, and many are easy to treat when detected in the early stages. 

Regular testing is the best way to take control of your sexual health and prevent long-term consequences of untreated STIs. Here’s what you need to know about getting tested for the most common STIs.

What is an STI panel?

Also known as an STI screening, an STI panel is a comprehensive set of tests that detect a range of sexually transmitted infections. Different tests require different sample types, so during an STI panel appointment, a healthcare provider will draw blood, swab for cell or body fluid samples and provide you with a sterile cup to collect a urine sample. 

For women, the panel may include a Pap test — one of several health screening tests all women need — to collect a sample of cells from the cervix to test for human papillomavirus (HPV). 

What is tested for in a full STI panel?

The following is a general list of the STIs most commonly tested for during a panel. This list is not inclusive, and your doctor may not recommend testing for all of them. Tell your doctor if you were sexually active outside of Canada to ensure they add any other necessary tests to your panel. 

Chlamydia and gonorrhea

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are among the most common STIs in Canada, with chlamydia being the most common. Both of these bacterial infections are highly contagious — but easily cured with antibiotics — and can occur in the genitals, anus, throat and eyes. Both of these STIs can pass from a mother to a baby during delivery.

Although chlamydia and gonorrhea often occur without symptoms, they do have several shared symptoms, including:

• Painful urination
• Unusual vaginal or penile discharge
• Painful sex for women
• Painful swelling of the testicles or penis for men

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are commonly tested with urine or a swab sample from an affected area. If left untreated, these STIs can cause infertility in both men and women, testicular infections in men and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women.

Syphilis

Once thought to be a thing of the past, syphilis rates are skyrocketing in Canada. Many people don’t experience any symptoms with syphilis, so testing is important for anyone who is sexually active. 

Since syphilis can be passed to a fetus during pregnancy and cause severe health problems in babies and small children, all pregnant Canadians should be screened for syphilis. Some territories have universal screening policies in place to help reduce infection rates in infants.

Syphilis occurs in four stages, each with its own set of symptoms, if any.

• Primary syphilis may cause a hard, painless sore known as a chancre on your mouth or genitals.
• Secondary syphilis occurs about one month after the sore heals. Symptoms may include a rough, non-itchy rash that usually occurs on the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet or the entire body.

Syphilis is highly contagious during the first two stages. If it isn’t treated, it progresses:

• Latent syphilis often has no symptoms and can last as long as 20 years.
• Late-stage syphilis can cause serious health problems, including brain damage, heart disease, or seizures.

Syphilis is tested using a blood, swab, or spinal fluid sample. It’s curable with antibiotics — the earlier it’s detected, the easier it is to treat.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis, or trich for short, is a parasitic STI that’s curable through a course of antibiotics — but all partners need to be treated at the same time to prevent reinfection. Most people with trich don’t have symptoms, though some women may experience:

• Pain, itching, and swelling around the infected area
• Unusual vaginal discharge 
• Excess discharge with a fishy smell

Testing involves a urine sample or swab of the infected area. Untreated trich can cause infections in the prostate glands and lead to pregnancy problems, including premature birth and low birth weight.

HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is a chronic disease that’s potentially deadly if it’s left untreated. Some people with HIV may not have symptoms — or the symptoms may be mistaken for those of a different illness. During the initial stages of the infection, when the viral load is high, you may experience:

• Fever
• Joint pain and muscle aches
• Throat pain
• Headache
• Mouth sores

HIV is tested through a blood sample. The disease can be managed with antiviral medications — but if it’s not, HIV will likely turn to AIDS within eight to 15 years, causing a very weak immune system and a high likelihood of contracting opportunistic infections or cancers that can be fatal.

Herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2)

Herpes simplex viruses are chronic conditions — the virus remains in the body and may periodically reactivate, causing sores on the mouth (typically HSV-1) or genitals (typically HSV-2). Many people with herpes don’t experience symptoms at all and may not know they have it, but the virus is contagious even when sores aren’t present — and it can spread to a baby before, during, or after birth.

Herpes is most often tested with a swab sample from an active sore during an outbreak. Medical experts don’t recommend HSV testing for people who don’t have symptoms unless they’ve had unprotected sex with someone who has the virus. In that case, a blood test will be used to detect antibodies produced by the body to fight the infection. Herpes can’t be cured, but early diagnosis and treatment with antiviral medications can help reduce the frequency and severity of outbreaks. 

Hepatitis B (HBV)

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver. It’s often asymptomatic, but if people do develop symptoms, they usually begin to notice them between two and five months after they were exposed. 

The first six months of an HBV infection is known as an acute infection, which may cause symptoms like fever, fatigue, joint pain, dark urine, and yellowing of the skin and eyes. Acute hepatitis B will clear up on its own in 95% of adults who have it, and the body will likely develop lifelong immunity against it.

If HBV doesn’t naturally clear up after six months, it’s known as chronic hepatitis B. Most people with chronic HBV don’t know they have it and left untreated, it can cause cirrhosis, liver cancer, and other serious health problems.

Hepatitis B is detected through a blood test. Although HBV is preventable with a vaccine, once a person is infected, it typically can’t be cured — but it can be managed with medications that help suppress or control the virus and reduce the risk of complications.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis C virus. Many people living with hepatitis C have no symptoms or only mild symptoms, and in some adults, Hepatitis C will go away on its own within six months — called an acute infection. Most hepatitis C infections happen in people who inject drugs or have injected them in the past. 

Symptoms of an acute infection can include:  

• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dark urine
• Pale stools
• Loss of appetite
• Flu-like symptoms
• Pain or tenderness on the right side of the abdomen
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or the whites of the eyes)

If the infection lasts longer than 3 months — a chronic infection — this can lead to more long-term health problems, such as liver scarring, liver cancer, and liver failure.

Symptoms of Hepatitis C chronic infection can include: 

• Abdominal pain
• Blood in stool or vomit
• Fluid build-up (in your abdomen)
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

Hepatitis C is detected through a blood test. It’s possible for pregnant women to pass on HCV to their baby during pregnancy and childbirth, so discussing Hepatitis C and other STIs during a prenatal visit is important. 

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

HPV is a collection of many different human papillomaviruses, some of which can spread through sexual contact and affect the vagina, vulva, cervix, anus, and penis — and, in some cases, the mouth or throat. HPV is most often asymptomatic, although some people get wart-like lumps on their genitals or anus.

While there currently is no HPV screening for men, women are tested via a swab of cells collected from the cervix. An HPV infection can’t be cured, but in most cases, the virus will go away on its own. If it doesn’t, and it’s left untreated, it can cause cancer in the affected area. Almost all cervical cancers are caused by HPV.

Who should get an STI panel?

Any sexually active Canadian should get an annual STI panel, although more frequent testing may be recommended for people in high-risk groups, including those who:

• Have sex without protection
• Have symptoms of an STI
• Have multiple sexual partners
• Currently have or have had an STI
• Share needles for drugs, tattooing, or piercing

If you have a sexual partner who fits into any of these groups, you are also at a higher risk for STIs.

How long after sex should you get an STI panel?

How long you should wait after sex before getting tested varies depending on the incubation period of specific STIs. HIV can take up to three months to detect, while STIs like gonorrhea and chlamydia are detectable within a few days to a week. 

In general, you can test for STIs three weeks after sexual contact and again in three months. The first test is likely to detect a possible infection, and the second will confirm initial results — or ensure treatment cured the infection.

What to expect during testing

During an STI panel appointment, your healthcare provider may ask about your sexual history and whether you’ve had positive STI tests in the past. It’s normal to feel shy about talking about sex, and you can decline to do so if you wish, although the information can help your provider know which tests are best for you.

Typically, test results are available within a few days to a couple of weeks and given to you over the phone by your doctor or clinic. In most cases, you can access your results online through your health portal. 

Understanding STI panel results

A negative result means no STIs were detected. Positive results mean you have an STI. 

While your confidentiality is highly protected in all medical settings, some STIs must be reported to the public health unit where you live. These include gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B. 

If you test positive for a reportable STI, you will be contacted by a public health nurse to ensure you get the care and support you need. The nurse will ask for the names and contact information of recent partners to let them know that they may have been exposed to a particular STI — but they won’t use your name or provide any of your personal information. 

If you prefer, you can let the nurse know that you will contact your partners yourself. Although it can be difficult, it’s important to communicate any positive results with your partners so they can get tested and seek the follow-up care and treatment they may need. 

How to schedule an STI panel

You can schedule an STI panel through your primary care doctor or visit an STI testing clinic. If you’re one of the 6.5 million Canadians without a family doctor — or if you’d prefer not to visit your primary care provider for STI testing — Maple is a great solution.

It’s quick and simple to register, and we provide access to primary care providers, such as Canadian-licensed doctors and nurse practitioners, within minutes, 24/7/365. Primary care providers on Maple can order STI panel lab work at an in-person facility near you, at their discretion. With all conversations taking place over secure text, audio, or video call, we make it easy to take control of your sexual health and make STI testing part of your regular preventive healthcare regimen.

Taking charge of your sexual health is crucial for your overall well-being. Regular STI testing not only protects you but also helps in reducing the spread of infections within the community. 

By staying informed and proactive, you can make empowered decisions about your health. Remember, early detection leads to easier treatment, so don’t wait—get tested regularly and encourage your partners to do the same. Your health is worth it.

The information presented here is for educational purposes and is not meant to replace the advice from your medical professional. Virtual care is not meant for medical emergencies. If you are experiencing an emergency like chest pain or difficulties breathing, for example, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.