When should I get tested?

1. Chlamydia and gonorrhea

   Urine test plus throat and rectal swabs

   Earliest7 days afterReliable from14 days after
   Enter a date

2. HIV, lab blood test

   4th-generation antigen/antibody test from a blood draw

   Earliest18 days afterReliable from45 days after
   Enter a date

3. HIV, rapid or home test

   Finger-stick or oral-swab antibody test

   Earliest23 days afterReliable from90 days after
   Enter a date

4. Syphilis

   Blood test

   Earliest21 days afterReliable from90 days after
   Enter a date

5. Hepatitis B

   Blood test. Skip it if you’re vaccinated and immune.

   Earliest28 days afterReliable from63 days after
   Enter a date

6. Hepatitis C

   Antibody blood test. An RNA test can find it sooner.

   Earliest56 days afterReliable from77 days after
   Enter a date

Bud is a journal, not medical advice. Window periods vary from person to person and by test, and these are general guidelines from the CDC. If you test in the early window and it’s negative, test again once the reliable date has passed. If you have symptoms, see a clinician now, whatever the date. If you took PEP, your clinic will give you its own test schedule.