Quick Answer

A standard full STD panel covers HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and often trichomoniasis and hepatitis B/C. It does NOT automatically include herpes, HPV, mycoplasma genitalium, or throat/rectal site testing unless specifically requested.

  • Core five: HIV (blood), syphilis (blood), chlamydia (urine/swab), gonorrhea (urine/swab), sometimes trichomoniasis.
  • Common additions: hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C antibody — worth requesting.
  • Frequent omissions: HSV serology (clinically debated), male HPV (no approved test), M. genitalium.
  • Site coverage matters more than infection count — throat and rectal swabs catch what urine misses.

The Short Version, Structured

Panel definitions vary because guidelines vary: CDC recommends specific screens by demographics (age <25, MSM, pregnancy status), while commercial bundles standardize for operational simplicity. Neither approach guarantees YOUR risk profile gets covered.

Specifying your panel

State your practices plainly: 'oral and anal exposure occurred, please add throat and rectal swabs.' Providers respond to explicit requests far better than inferred histories.

Interpreting coverage gaps

A negative panel missing herpes means no data on herpes — not freedom from it. Understanding exactly what was tested prevents false security from definition mismatches.

⚕️ This page is educational and does not replace advice from a licensed clinician. If you may have been exposed to an STI, get tested — most infections are manageable, and many are fully curable.

Sources & Further Reading

Figures reflect CDC surveillance and WHO estimates; they are population statistics, not personal risk predictions.