There are limitations to the each of the tests for sexually transmitted infections. There is a time difference between when a person is infected and when the disease will show up on a test. This time difference is known as an "incubation period" or a "window period". During incubation or window periods an infected person can transmit the disease to someone else. Blood tests tend to have longer window periods, as they are for the most part testing the person's immune response rather than for the "bug" itself.

Many people with sexually transmitted infections experience no noticeable symptoms. These silent sexually transmitted infections can nonetheless cause health problems.

Also while tests are mostly accurate they can be falsely negative and very occasionally be falsely positive.

INCUBATIONS PERIODS

Gonorrhea

The incubation period for Gonorrhea is usually 2 to 7 days.

Chlamydia

The incubation period for Chlamydia is usually 2 to 6 weeks but can be longer.

Syphilis

The incubation period for Syphilis is usually 10 to 90 days

HIV

The window period for HIV is usually 2 weeks to 3 months, but could be up to 6 months

Hepatitis A

The incubation period for Hepatitis A is 15 to 50 days.

Hepatitis B

The incubation period for Hepatitis B is usually 45-180 days, with an average of 60 to 90 days.

Hepatitis C

The incubation period for Hepatitis C ranges from 2 weeks to 6 months though is commonly 6 to 9 weeks.