Chlamydia testing

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is passed on through unprotected sex (sex without a condom). Chlamydia is very common in the UK and particularly among sexually active teenagers and young adults.

Find out more about Chlamydia.

If you live in England, are under 25 and are sexually active, it’s recommended that you get tested for chlamydia every year or when you change sexual partner.

How do you get tested?

Testing for chlamydia is done with a urine test or a swab test. You don’t always need a physical examination by a nurse or doctor.

Anyone can get a free and confidential chlamydia test at a sexual health clinic, or from their GP surgery.

People under 25 years old can also get tested as part of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP). This provides postal test kits free of charge. You can usually pick up a test kit in places such as sexual health clinics, pharmacies, GP surgeries, health centres and some colleges or you can order one online.

You can also buy chlamydia testing kits to do at home from pharmacies or direct from a test kit provider.

If you live in England, you’re under 25 and you’re sexually active, you should get tested for chlamydia every year or when you change sexual partner, as you’re more likely to catch it.

Are these tests just for chlamydia?

Since early 2020 we have started to offer postal testing for under 25s for chlamydia and gonorrhoea. These STIs can be tested for on the same sample – ie. you don’t need to take extra swabs to test for both.

Depending on who your sexual partners are, and how often you change partners, you may also be offered blood testing for HIV and syphilis.

Click here to access online testing for under 25s.

If you are aged over 25 please call our service to discuss accessing testing.