Guide
Medical Screening Decision Tree — Beyond the Standard Panel
The standard testing schedule covers the average client. This is the decision tree for non-average situations.
The standard panel
HIV (4th gen ag/ab), syphilis, gonorrhea (urethral + throat + rectal), chlamydia (same three), Hep B + C antibody. Quarterly for high-risk; semi-annually for moderate; annually for low-risk monogamous.
When to extend the panel
- HSV-1/HSV-2 type-specific antibody — when you've had a known exposure or want to know status; not part of standard testing globally
- HPV (women) — co-test with Pap per local cervical-screening schedule
- Trichomoniasis — added when symptomatic or for women
- Mpox — only if symptomatic with lesions
Window periods (refresher)
HIV gen-4: reliable from 2.5 weeks; definitive at 6 weeks. HIV antibody (rapid): 4 weeks reliable; 12 weeks definitive. Syphilis: 3 weeks reliable; 12 weeks definitive. Gonorrhea/chlamydia NAAT: 1 week reliable; 2 weeks definitive. Hep B: 30 days reliable; 6 months definitive. Hep C: 8 weeks reliable; 6 months definitive. HSV antibody: 21 days; 4 months definitive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I test after every encounter?
PEP if I had unprotected exposure?
Why this matters now
The piece above frames the topic; the practical implications need additional development. Specifically:
- What changed recently (last 12–24 months) that makes this worth re-examining.
- What the immediate practical consequences are for buyers, providers, and platforms.
- What second-order effects to expect over the next 6–18 months.
- What signals to watch for as the situation develops.
The empirical picture
Beyond commentary, the data tells a specific story. Where the available data points are strong, what they show; where the data is weak, what the honest gaps are.
How this affects different audiences
- For first-time clients — what to factor into trip planning.
- For experienced regulars — what changes in your existing patterns.
- For providers — what shifts in your career planning.
- For policymakers and researchers — what questions emerge.
Related coverage
- Country region guides — for empirical local information.
- Guide library — for related deep-dives.
- Blog index — for ongoing analysis.
- Community forum — for live discussion.