Hi @ekoorb9, this is an important question to ask! You’re right as different STI tests are for different infections so it needs explaining. Blood tests can check for one or more infections like Syphilis, HIV, Hepatitis A & B. It may sound like a lot, but it’s only one tube collected. Urine (pee) tests check for Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea. Depending on the sex you have, Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea may be tested by vaginal or anus (bum) swabs too.
A full sexual health screen usually includes blood & urine tests & sometimes swabs. The good news is that the swabs can be collected yourself. That means when you don’t have symptoms, you can skip the examination.
If you do have symptoms, it’s a different situation & other tests might be taken for herpes or mycoplasma genitalium, for example. The bottom line (pardon the pun!) is to ask your doctor or nurse what tests they recommend 🙂