There are many reasons people give for why they do not want to get an STD screen. Any Lab Test Now® in Plano has addressed these issues with their current promotion of Rapid STD Testing. This service allows customers to take an anonymous lab test at an affordable price and get their results much sooner while only providing a blood and/or urine sample.

Any Lab Test Now® in Plano provides rapid STD testing to set your mind at ease. STD screens start at $49 and are payable via cash, Visa, MasterCard or Discover. The comprehensive STD panel includes HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Herpes (I & II), Syphilis and Hepatitis (A, B & C). The cost for this panel is only $229. Results are usually ready in 24-48hrs.

“We provide direct medical lab testing that does not require a customer to provide identification.” Owner Greg Johnson further adds, “Not only does this allow truly anonymous HIV testing, our business model can also get the customer in-and-out within 15 minutes from the moment they walk in the door.” Many HIV awareness groups suggest that sexually active individuals get tested every six months. Most HIV infections can be detected after three months of exposure. An HIV screen at six months post-exposure is considered to have a confident level of accuracy.

Instant STD Testing Dallas

The Dallas County statistics report that last year there was an increase in the STD infection rate, especially with chlamydia. Many times no symptoms become visible with a chlamydia or a gonorrhea infection. Therefore, people continue spreading the infection without knowing. Additionally, the re-infection rate among couples is high if both individuals are not treated concurrently.

Many people do not get an STD screen because they dread getting “swabbed” for a specimen. Getting an STD test this way can be an embarrassing and uncomfortable experience. However, Any Lab Test Now® tests for STDs through the collection of urine and/or blood. This collection method allows for herpes simplex I & II testing even if no active sores are present. Most tests for herpes requires for an active sore to be present at the time of testing. This may delay a person from getting tested and contribute to the spread of the virus.

What exactly is Rapid STD Testing? The collection process takes less than 15 minutes from the moment you walk in the door and results are back in about 24-48hrs. “We perform so many tests every day that it is cost-effective for us to start processing them the same day the customer comes in,” says Johnson.

North Dallas residents wanting to get testing can call (972) 596-6181 or get driving directions to the Any Lab Test Now in Plano on their website. No appointment is needed and walk-ins are welcome. Apart from testing for sexually transmitted diseases, they have hundreds of medical lab tests to choose from including DNA paternity tests, thyroid panel and even a complete wellness checkup.

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Herpes on Mouth

Don’t freak out.  There are reasons other than herpes to have a bump on your penis.  If you have never had sex (vaginal, anal or oral) before you can pretty much rule out all STDs.  If you are male and under 18yrs old then there is a chance that bumps on your penis may simply be hair follicles.  Another possibility may be an irritated pore. 

Below is a picture of a fever blister on someone’s lip.  Herpes on the genitals will look very similar.  Herpes’ blisters may only look like a sore.  It usually takes 2 to 4 weeks after contraction to get symptoms.  Some people get flu-like symptoms prior to their first outbreak, and the first outbreak is usually the worst. 

Herpes simplex I (HSV I) occurs only on the mouth.  Some individuals may contract the virus and never have a fever blister.  This may also be true for herpes simplex II (HSV II).  If you are one of the people that does get symptoms you may find relief knowing that many people only get one outbreak and never have symptoms again.  Those that do have repeated outbreaks show a decreased frequency and intensity over time. 

What is a herpes test?  Well, there are several to choose from.  By far the most common is a blood test.  If you live in the Plano, McKinney or Dallas area you can visit Any Lab Test Now®, pay $49 for a herpes I & II blood test and get the results usually the next day.  They also offer a comprehensive STD blood test for $229 that includes gonorrhea, chlamydia,  HIV, herpes I & II, hepatitis AB+C, and syphilis. 

As mentioned earlier, infection of herpes can cause repeated outbreaks.  There are once a day medications that can prevent possible outbreaks.  It was believed that herpes is only contagious when an outbreak is present.  Therefore, prevent an outbreak and you can prevent spread of the virus.  However, scientific studies have shown otherwise. 

Herpes infection is very common.  The data released by the CDC indicates that the rate of herpes infection in Dallas, TX is 3 out of every 4 sexually active people.  You are part of the sexually active group if you have had sex within the past year.  It was also noticed that herpes infection of older people is on the rise.  This can be attributed to sexual performance medication being covered by Medicare.    

Follow link to find herpes pictures.

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Part-Time Phlebotomist- Any Lab Test Now!

McKinney, TX

Reports To: ANY LAB TEST NOW Owner and Manager

The Phlebotomist will be responsible for all operations when the owner/manager is not at the site.  It’s important that the phlebotomist has both strong people and clinical skills. 

If interested, email resume with references to plano@anylabtestnow.com.

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Full Time Medical Assistant/Chief Phlebotomist-Any Lab Test Now

McKinney, TX

Reports To: ANY LAB TEST NOW Owner

The Medical Assistant will be responsible for all operations when the owner is not at the site.  It’s important that the MA has both strong people and clinical skills. 

If interested, email resume with references to plano@anylabtestnow.com.

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Click Image for Local STD Testing

Many people who get genital HPV, it will clear on it’s own with no treatment and with no symptoms. Most of the time, no health problems occur. The longer the virus is in the body, the higher the risk of experiencing health problems, including cervical, anal or throat cancer. The HPV virus lives in mucous membranes in the vagina, anus and throat.

Much of the information about HPV centers on women, since having the virus increases the risk of getting cervical cancer. HPV in men can cause health problems, too. Men have an increased risk of getting genital cancers, although these cancers are not common. HPV can also cause genital warts in men, just as in women.

Changing sexual practices have led to a dramatic rise in throat cancer in the United States. Increasing rates of HPV infections, spread through oral sex, is largely driving the rapid rise in oropharyngeal cancers, which include tumors of the throat, tonsils, and base of the tongue.

The appearance of warts is one way HPV infection is diagnosed. A doctor simply does a visual inspection. In women, an HPV test can be done by a doctor with a swab of cells from the cervix, just like a Pap Smear Test. There is no routine test for men to check for high-risk HPV strains that can cause cancer. However, some doctors are recommending anal Pap tests for gay and bisexual men.

There is no treatment for HPV infections when no symptoms are present. Instead, doctors treat the health problems that are caused by Human Papillomavirus.

Abstinence is the only sure way to prevent HPV transmission. The risk of transmission is lowered when a person has sex with only one person who is not infected and who is also monogamous. Condoms can provide some protection against HPV transmission. Unfortunately, they aren’t 100% effective, since HPV is transmitted primarily by skin to skin contact. The virus can still infect the skin uncovered by the condom. If a partner has HPV, it does not necessarily mean they have had sex with someone else recently. The virus can lay dormant in the body for years without causing noticeable symptoms.

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Sometimes, vaginal discharge is completely normal. A normal vaginal discharge helps to clean the female reproductive system. The discharge is secretions made by the glands inside the vagina and cervix. The secretions help to carry away dead cells and bacteria. It is like exfoliating the inside! This process helps keep it clean and helps to prevent infections.

Vaginal discharge may be normal

Most of the time, vaginal discharge is normal. The amount of discharge can vary based on many different factors. A normal vaginal discharge will vary in color from clear to milky, depending on the stage of your menstrual cycle. There will be more discharge when you are breastfeeding, ovulating or sexually aroused. The odor of the discharge can vary during the different stages of you menstrual cycle too. This is because hormones are one variable that can change throughout the month. Increased levels of estrogen are responsible for the increased amount of clear, stretchy cervical secretions seen around ovulation. After ovulation, the vaginal discharge tends to become less watery and may look more like paste. The odor may be different during pregnancy or with bad personal hygiene. None of those changes is cause for alarm.

You want to be concerned if there is a significantly unusual color, odor or consistency of the vaginal discharge, or if there is any itching or burning. There are many different things that can happen to cause a change in the balance of the normal bacteria in the vagina. When this happens, it can affect the smell, color and texture of the discharge. Some of the many things that can upset this balance are medications, diabetes, menopause, douching, soaps, lotions, bubble baths and cervical cancer. Infections that will upset the balance are bacterial vaginosis, PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) and yeast infections. Some STD’s will also cause change in vaginal discharge. The STD’s that commonly cause this are gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis.

There are some things that you can do to prevent vaginal infections that can lead to abnormal vaginal discharge. Good personal hygiene is the most important, keep the vagina clean with regular bathing using a gentle soap and warm water. Always make sure that all of the soaps, feminine sprays and bubble baths are not scented. Do not douche. Douching is linked to an increased incidence of bacterial vaginosis. Douching decreases the concentrations of good bacteria in the vagina. After using the restroom, always wipe from front to back, to make sure bacteria is not wiped from the rectum to the vagina. Make sure to wear white, all cotton panties. These are just some of the simple things that can be done daily for good personal hygiene.

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STD Testing During Pregnancy

Having an STD during pregnancy can be extremely dangerous to both the mother and the unborn child, and sometimes even fatal to the child. STD’s can passed on by sexual contact involving the mouth, anus or vagina. Testing for STD’s is a standard process during the first office visit with an OB/GYN after finding out a woman is expecting. It is crucial that if an STD is diagnosed that it is treated along with any sexual partners. If your partner is not treated, reinfection will occur. Make sure and use protection for a week after both partners have been treated to give the infection time to clear up.

If a woman is diagnosed with Chlamydia and/or Gonorrhea during pregnancy, she might not experience any symptoms at all. Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed STD. People infected with Chlamydia often are also infected with Gonorrhea. If there are slight symptoms seen with Chlamydia, often they appear as a slight discharge or lower abdominal pain. If Chlamydia is left untreated, it can cause preterm labor or postpartum endometriosis (inflammation of the uterus). If Chlamydia is passed on the child during delivery it may cause pneumonia or conjunctivitis, which can lead to blindness. The symptoms of Gonorrhea might be discharge, itching or burning with urination. If Gonorrhea is passed on the baby, it too can cause eye problems that can lead to blindness. Gonorrhea and Chlamydia both carry an increased risk of miscarriage. Both STD’s can be treated with antibiotics.

Genital Herpes can be very dangerous. Herpes can be passed on to the baby during a vaginal delivery and can cause damage to the eyes and the central nervous system. In some cases it can even cause death to the child. If the woman contracts Herpes for the first time during pregnancy near the time of delivery, it may cause premature labor or restict intrauterine growth. In this case there is a 1 in 2 chance that it will be passed on to the baby. This risk can be reduced by cesarean delivery.

Condyloma, better known as Genital Warts, is caused by HPV, and there might not be any symptoms for months or even years. Babies that contract the virus can develop warts on the larynx (voice box), usually by the time they reach five years old. Performing a c-section is only done if the warts are so large that they interfere with a vaginal delivery. Treatment for the mother will be postponed until after the child is born.

Syphilis can cause miscarriage or stillbirth and if it is transmitted to the fetus, it can cause skin lesions or problems with the spleen, liver, bones or central nervous system. There are antibiotics that can be given during pregnancy to lower the risk of transmitting the infection to the fetus and stop the progression in the mother.

Hepatits B has many different symptoms that can occur, some of which are fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, grey stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). The body will either fight the virus and build up anitbodies or if the body can not build up antibodies to it, the person becomes a chronic carrier. A chronic carrier can infect their child through the placenta. Women with Hepatitis B are more likely to have a premature delivery. An injection will be given to the newborn baby to immunize them from becoming infected.

HIV is increasing in women worldwide. Women account for 50% of the 40 million adults living with HIV/AIDS. A woman that has been exposed to HIV may not have symptoms for years and can still infect others, including her child. HIV can be passed on to an unborn child while still in the uterus, during delivery and after delivery through breastfeeding. Over 90% of children with AIDS contracted HIV from their mother. A c-section will decrease the risk of infecting the child. A child born with HIV, might not have symptoms for years. HIV may develop into AIDS, and the only way to know if you have HIV is an HIV test. If a woman is HIV positive and does not take any medications during pregnancy to prevent transmission to the baby, there is a 25% chance of passing the virus on the unborn child. If medications are taken, the risk is then lowered to less than 2%.

All pregnant women need to be tested. If there has been an exposure, start on anti-viral medication as soon as possible. If you are given medication to treat any STD, make sure you take the full prescription, even if symptoms have gone away. The only sure form of protection is abstinence. If there is any sexual activity, practice safe sex. Always use a condom with spermicide. Make sure if you use a lubricant that it is water based. It is better to limit the number of sexual partners, the more partner, the higher the risk of contracting an STD. Everyone should practice monogamy, meaning having sex with only one person. That person must also have sex with only you to reduce the risk. If someone is sexually active, they should get STD testing regularly.

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