STI Blood Screen — 4 Diseases (Hepatitis B, C, HIV, Syphilis)

IFCOR's four-disease STI blood screen tests for the four most significant sexually transmitted blood-borne infections — hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C antibodies (anti-HCV Ig), HIV antibodies, and syphilis (RPR plus confirmatory TPHA) — from a single blood draw. These are the infections most commonly screened before sexual health check-ups, new relationships, or as pre-procedural requirements for some medical treatments. The panel requires no fasting and results are available the next business day. Negative results are meaningful only during the appropriate window period: HIV requires retesting if exposure was within the last 6 weeks.

The four-disease STI serology panel at IFCOR Jihlava targets the four most clinically significant blood-borne sexually transmitted infections in the Czech Republic population. HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) detects active hepatitis B infection — both acute and chronic. Hepatitis B is transmitted sexually, parenterally (needles, blood products), and perinatally; a reactive HBsAg with negative anti-HBs indicates active infection requiring medical management. Anti-HCV Ig (hepatitis C antibody) screens for prior exposure to hepatitis C — an RNA virus that causes chronic hepatitis in approximately 80% of infected individuals, progressing to cirrhosis in 20–30% over decades if untreated. Crucially, a positive anti-HCV result indicates exposure but not necessarily active infection (which requires confirmatory PCR); approximately 20% of HCV-exposed individuals clear the virus spontaneously. HIV antibody testing at IFCOR uses a combined method detecting antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2; a reactive result requires confirmatory testing at a reference laboratory. The HIV window period with modern fourth-generation tests is approximately 18–45 days from exposure. Syphilis is tested with two complementary methods: RPR (rapid plasma reagin) is a non-treponemal test that detects non-specific antibodies produced in response to syphilis infection — it is used for initial screening and, because titres fall with treatment, for monitoring response to antibiotics. TPHA (Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay) is a specific treponemal test that confirms true syphilis exposure and remains positive for life after treatment. The dual RPR+TPHA approach maximises both sensitivity and specificity. No fasting is required. Results arrive by secure email the next business day.