Be Sure, Not "Kind of" Sure.
Why our London clinic refuses to offer "4-hour" or "instant" STI tests.
The "Instant Test" Myth
Many clinics in London advertise "Same Day" results within 4 hours. While tempting, these tests often utilize Lateral Flow or Point-of-Care (POCT) modalities.
Clinical Risk
POCT tests have significantly higher Limits of Detection (LOD). This means they require a much higher concentration of the pathogen to trigger a positive result, leading to a dangerous risk of False Negatives during the early window period.
01The Gold Standard: PCR
We exclusively use UKAS-accredited laboratory PCR (NAAT). This technology amplifies the DNA or RNA of the pathogen, allowing us to detect infections even when levels are extremely low.
02Window Period Safety
A "quick" test performed too early will almost always return a negative result, giving patients a false sense of security while they are still infectious. Lab-based diagnostics minimize this risk significantly.
UKHSA Alert: Some POCT Tests Miss Gonorrhoea
September 2024 Warning
On 9th September 2024, UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency) issued an alert warning that the Cepheid Xpert CT/GC assay, a common point-of-care test used by many "instant result" clinics, no longer detects some strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae due to mutations in the gene targets the test uses.
This means patients tested with this assay could receive a false negative result and unknowingly remain infected and infectious. Our laboratory-based PCR testing uses validated multi-target assays that are not affected by these mutations.
Source: UKHSA Health Protection Report, September 2024
Qualified Laboratory Partners
All samples are dispatched to UKAS-accredited (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) laboratories. UKAS is the government-appointed body responsible for assessing the competence of testing labs.
Results from 1 day • UKAS Accredited Labs • GMC Registered Doctors