How Long Does it Get to Results?

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide—and it's no different in Korea. Often symptomless, chlamydia can quietly cause long-term complications if left untreated. The good news? It’s easy to detect and treat with a simple course of antibiotics.

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When you get an STD test in Korea, one of the first questions you'll likely have is, "How long until I get the results?" The good news is that for many common tests, Korea's advanced medical system offers impressively fast turnaround times.

Here's a general guide to how long you can expect to wait for your STD test results in South Korea:


1. Rapid Tests: Minutes to Hours

  • HIV Rapid Tests: These are the fastest. Whether you go to a public health center or an NGO like the Korea Federation for HIV/AIDS Prevention (KHAP), you can typically get your HIV rapid test results within 20-30 minutes. This allows for immediate peace of mind or quick next steps if a preliminary positive result requires further confirmation.


2. Common Bacterial STIs (Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma): Same Day to 3 Days

  • Private Clinics: Many specialized urology or OB/GYN clinics in Seoul, especially those in areas like Gangnam that cater to international patients, pride themselves on speed. For common bacterial STIs often tested via urine or swab PCR (like Chlamydia and Gonorrhea), you can often get results the same day (within a few hours) or within 24-48 hours. Some clinics like Trueman Urology Clinic explicitly advertise same-day results for these tests.
  • Larger Hospitals & Some Private Clinics: For a broader panel of bacterial STIs, or if samples need to be sent to an external lab, results typically come back within 1 to 3 business days.


3. Blood Tests (Syphilis, Hepatitis, Herpes, Confirmatory HIV): 2 to 5 Business Days

  • Syphilis, Hepatitis B/C, and Herpes (antibody tests): These tests usually require blood samples and are processed in a lab. Results for these generally take a bit longer, typically arriving within 2 to 5 business days.
  • Confirmatory HIV Tests: If an initial rapid HIV test yields a reactive (preliminary positive) result, a confirmatory blood test (like a Western Blot or a more sensitive PCR) will be conducted. Results for these usually take a few days to a week.


4. HPV Tests (Human Papillomavirus): A Few Days to a Week

  • HPV tests, especially for high-risk types (often done via swab), can take similar to other lab-based tests, usually 3-7 business days.

Factors Influencing Turnaround Time:

  • Clinic vs. Public Health Center: Private clinics often have faster lab processing due to direct arrangements with labs or in-house facilities. Public health centers are excellent for free testing but might have slightly longer turnaround times for non-rapid tests (e.g., KHAP states 3-4 days for general STI tests).
  • Type of Test: Rapid tests are instant, while PCR and other lab-based analyses require more processing time.
  • Time of Day/Week: Tests done early in the day or early in the week might get results back faster than those done closer to clinic closing times or on Fridays, just before the weekend.
  • Communication Method: Many clinics will send results via email, text message, or allow you to pick them up in person, which can save time.



In essence, if you're looking for quick answers for common STIs, private clinics in Korea can often provide results within a day. For more extensive panels or specific blood tests, expect to wait a few days, which is still very efficient by international standards.