A full STD panel for females typically includes tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Depending on the provider, it may also include trichomoniasis and, in some cases, herpes or HPV screening. What’s actually ordered varies by your age, sexual history, and risk factors, so no two panels are identical.
Core Tests in a Standard Panel
Most clinics and labs build their full panel around six infections that the CDC recommends screening for in sexually active women:
- Chlamydia: Routine annual screening is recommended for all sexually active women under 25, and for older women with risk factors like new or multiple partners.
- Gonorrhea: Follows the same age and risk guidelines as chlamydia, and the two are almost always tested together from the same sample.
- Syphilis: Recommended for women at increased risk, including those with a history of incarceration, transactional sex work, or who live in higher-prevalence areas.
- HIV: The CDC recommends all women ages 13 to 64 be screened at least once, with repeat testing for those at ongoing risk.
- Hepatitis B: Recommended for women who have had more than one sex partner in the past six months, a history of injection drug use, or a partner who tests positive.
- Hepatitis C: All adults over 18 should be screened at least once, regardless of risk factors.
Many expanded panels from private labs also include trichomoniasis as a seventh test. Quest Health, for example, offers a seven-infection panel (chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, trichomoniasis, syphilis, and HIV) for $282 plus a small physician service fee.
Trichomoniasis: Often Added, Not Always Automatic
Trichomoniasis is one of the most common STIs, yet there are no universal screening guidelines for it. The CDC recommends testing women who come in with vaginal discharge, and suggests annual screening for women at higher risk, such as those with multiple partners, a history of STIs, or who are living with HIV. If you’re requesting a “full” panel, it’s worth confirming trichomoniasis is included, because some providers leave it off unless you ask.
Why Herpes Usually Isn’t Included
This surprises many people, but herpes (HSV) blood testing is deliberately left off most standard panels. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends against routine herpes screening in people without symptoms, giving it their lowest grade. The reasoning: blood tests for herpes antibodies have a high rate of false positives, which can cause significant anxiety and stigma without any clear health benefit. A positive result in someone with no symptoms doesn’t change treatment or reduce transmission in a meaningful way. If you have visible sores or blisters, a provider can swab those directly for a much more reliable diagnosis.
HPV and Pap Tests Are Separate
HPV testing and Pap smears screen for cervical cancer risk, not for an active sexually transmitted infection in the way the rest of the panel does. They follow their own schedule. Current guidelines recommend your first Pap test at age 21, repeated every three years through age 29. Starting at age 30, you can switch to an HPV test every five years, a combined HPV/Pap co-test every five years, or continue with Pap tests every three years through age 65. The American Cancer Society recommends starting HPV testing at age 25 instead.
These tests are not bundled into a standard STD panel. They’re ordered separately, often during a routine gynecological visit.
What Each Test Involves
A full panel doesn’t mean a dozen separate procedures. In practice, your visit involves two or three sample types that cover everything.
A blood draw handles syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C all from one vial (or a small set of vials). A urine sample or vaginal swab covers chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. For chlamydia and gonorrhea, many clinics let you choose between a urine cup or a vaginal swab, and self-collected vaginal swabs are now widely accepted. If herpes testing is ordered because of visible sores, a provider swabs the affected area directly.
The whole process, aside from waiting room time, takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
Additional Tests Based on Risk
Beyond the standard panel, your provider may add tests based on your specific situation. Mycoplasma genitalium is a newer addition that some clinics offer, but research shows routine testing isn’t useful for women with common genital symptoms alone. It’s primarily worth testing for when a provider finds signs of cervicitis (inflammation of the cervix) on examination, where it has a significantly stronger association.
Pregnant women get a more aggressive screening schedule. At the first prenatal visit, all pregnant women are tested for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B regardless of risk level, plus hepatitis C. Chlamydia and gonorrhea screening are recommended for pregnant women under 25 or those with risk factors. Women at higher risk are retested later in pregnancy, with syphilis and HIV rechecked around 28 weeks and again at delivery.
Timing Matters for Accuracy
Testing too soon after a potential exposure can produce a false negative. Each infection has a “window period,” the time between exposure and when a test can reliably detect it. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are generally detectable within one to two weeks. Syphilis antibodies typically show up within three to six weeks. HIV tests vary by type: newer combination tests can detect infection within two to four weeks, while antibody-only tests may need up to three months to be accurate. Hepatitis B and C can take several weeks to a few months.
If you’re getting tested after a specific exposure, let your provider know the timing so they can advise whether you need to return for a follow-up test.
How Often to Get Tested
For sexually active women under 25, annual chlamydia and gonorrhea screening is a baseline recommendation. Women over 25 with new or multiple partners should follow the same schedule. HIV screening is recommended at least once for all women between 13 and 64, with more frequent testing if you have ongoing risk factors. Syphilis and hepatitis screening frequency depends on your individual risk profile.
If you’re entering a new relationship and want a clean baseline, a full panel that includes chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and trichomoniasis covers the infections most likely to be transmitted without symptoms. Just keep window periods in mind if you’ve had recent new exposures.