Post-travel infection screening (Screening of the asymptomatic returning traveller)

What is post-travel infection screening?

Post-travel screening looks for infections that can be present without making you feel unwell, in people who have returned from the tropics. It is aimed at travellers who feel well but may have been exposed — for example through swimming in fresh water, or long stays and living abroad.

The best-known example is schistosomiasis (bilharzia), caught from contact with fresh water such as lakes and rivers in Africa, including places like Lake Malawi and the River Nile. It often causes no symptoms at first but can damage organs years later if untreated. Screening can also look for other parasites and, depending on your history, infections such as HIV, hepatitis or tuberculosis.

Screening is usually done a while after you return, because some infections take weeks to show up on tests. It typically involves blood tests, sometimes looking for a raised level of a white cell called an eosinophil, along with stool and urine samples.

This is a check for people who feel well. It is not for anyone who is currently unwell. A fever or feeling ill after travel is a medical emergency that needs urgent same-day assessment, not routine screening.

Types, options & approaches

There may be different ways to do this. The right approach depends on the clinical question and your circumstances.

Options at a glance

These are the main approaches described in this guide. The right option depends on the diagnosis, your goals and what your clinician thinks is safe.

Preparing for your test

• Wait an appropriate time after returning before screening — often around three months — so infections like schistosomiasis can be detected; ask the service about timing.
• Write down your full travel history, including countries, length of stay and rural areas.
• Note any freshwater contact (swimming, wading, washing) and where it happened.
• List any symptoms, even mild ones, and when they occurred.
• Bring details of vaccines, antimalarials and any illness or treatment while abroad.
• Be ready to provide stool and urine samples, which the service will explain.
• Mention any sexual contacts, medical or dental care abroad, or contact with unwell people, as these guide which tests are offered.

What happens

A clinician takes a detailed travel history to work out what you may have been exposed to and which tests are worthwhile. Screening is targeted to your risk rather than a fixed list for everyone.

Blood is taken, often including a full blood count (which can show a raised eosinophil count) and an antibody test for schistosomiasis if you had freshwater contact. You may be asked to provide stool and urine samples, which are examined under a microscope for parasite eggs.

Depending on your history, tests for blood-borne viruses or tuberculosis may be offered with your consent. The clinician explains when and how you will get your results and what would happen if something is found.

Is this test right for me?

A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.

Before you decide

Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.

The main limitation is that no screen catches everything, and timing matters — testing too soon after exposure can miss infections like schistosomiasis. Be clear with the clinician about exactly where you went and what you did, and remember that screening is for people who feel well, not a substitute for urgent assessment if you are unwell.

Published figures to discuss

Screening accuracy depends on timing, which tests are chosen, and the infection in question. Some tests can be falsely negative if done too early, and a raised eosinophil count is a useful clue but is neither sensitive nor specific. Because performance varies so much by infection and timing, fixed accuracy figures are not given here; the key point is that a normal screen reduces but does not eliminate the chance of a missed infection.

These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.

What happens afterwards

There is no physical recovery from screening. What matters afterwards is getting your results, understanding what they mean, and arranging any treatment if something is found.

• No change in how you feel, as screening is for people who are already well
• A short wait for results
• Possibly being asked to return for repeat or additional tests
• Relief at a normal result, with a reminder that it cannot exclude everything

Aftercare

• Return your stool and urine samples promptly and as instructed.
• Make sure you know when and how you will get your results.
• Attend any repeat or follow-up tests you are asked to have.
• If an infection is found, complete any treatment exactly as prescribed.
• Seek urgent care if you become unwell at any point, rather than waiting for screening results.
• Keep a record of your travel and any treatment for future reference.

• Detailed travel history written down
• Note of any freshwater contact and where
• Records of vaccines, antimalarials and any illness abroad
• Stool and urine sample containers and instructions
• Clear understanding of when results are due and who will contact you
• Saved contact details for the screening service

⚠ Get urgent help if…

• Fever or feeling unwell after travel — seek urgent same-day assessment, do not wait for screening
• Blood in the urine or stool
• Persistent diarrhoea, abdominal pain or unexplained weight loss
• A persistent cough, especially with night sweats or weight loss
• Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)
• A new rash or itching, particularly after freshwater exposure

Who to contact: your clinician, clinic or test provider first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.

General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your specialist gives you.

Results & realistic expectations

A normal screen is reassuring and means the infections tested for were not detected at that time. It does not rule out every possible infection, and a test done too soon after exposure can miss something, which is why timing and an accurate travel history matter.

A positive result identifies a treatable infection so it can be dealt with before it causes harm. Some findings, such as HIV or hepatitis, lead to specialist care and support. The clinician will explain what was found and the next steps.

Screening reflects your situation at the time of testing. It does not protect you from future infections, so any new travel would need fresh consideration. If you had a recent exposure but were tested too early, you may be advised to repeat the test after enough time has passed.

Related tests, treatments or support

Post-travel screening is often arranged through an infectious diseases or tropical medicine service and may be combined with treatment of anything found, and with advice for future travel. If a serious infection such as TB is diagnosed, public health processes such as notification and contact tracing may follow.

Follow-up & long-term care

You should be told clearly how and when results will reach you, and what happens if any are abnormal. If treatment is needed, follow-up confirms it has worked — for example repeat schistosomiasis testing after treatment. Make sure you know who is responsible for any results still pending.

Repeat, follow-on and what comes next

• Repeat testing is sometimes needed if screening was done too early after exposure.
• A borderline result may need confirming with a further or different test.
• After treatment for something like schistosomiasis, repeat testing checks it has cleared.

Ask what happens if the result is unclear or needs repeating, and what is included if further tests or follow-up are needed.

What good aftercare looks like

• Clear communication of all results, including which are still pending
• A plan for repeating tests done too early
• Specialist referral and support if a significant infection is found
• Confirmation testing after treatment, and advice for future travel

What affects the cost

Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:

• The consultation and travel history assessment fee
• Which tests are chosen based on your individual risk
• The number of blood, stool and urine tests required
• Whether specialist serology or longer tests are needed
• Whether any positive result leads to treatment or referral
• Follow-up appointments to confirm treatment has worked

• The consultation fee and what the assessment covers
• Which specific tests are included and which cost extra
• How and when results are provided, and by whom
• What happens if a test is positive, including referral and treatment
• What happens if a result is borderline and needs repeating
• Whether follow-up testing after any treatment is included

On the NHS? Post-travel screening is available on the NHS in some situations, particularly through infectious diseases or tropical medicine services; people sometimes choose private screening for speed or convenience.

You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including reports, follow-up and what happens if the result is inconclusive — before you decide.

Consent traps and marketing red flags

These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.

Choosing a specialist safely

• Check the specialist is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
• Make sure they work at a CQC-registered service, and look for membership of the relevant Royal College or professional body.
• You're entitled to time to consider and to have your questions answered before you agree — the specialist who looks after you should explain it, not a salesperson.
• Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
• You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including any follow-up — before you decide.

How Vuemedics verifies every consultant →

Take this to your consultation. A good specialist will welcome every one of these.

• Given where I went and what I did, what should I actually be screened for?
• Is enough time since my last exposure, or should I wait before testing?
• What will the results change, and what happens if something is found?
• Which tests are included, and which take longer to come back?
• How and when will I get my results, and who is responsible for them?
• What should I do if I become unwell while waiting?
• Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
• Will you be the specialist who carries out my test, and who looks after me afterwards?
• What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
• What does a realistic result look like — and what can this test not achieve?
• What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
• Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
• What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?

Find a verified specialist for post-travel infection screening

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How we made this page

Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →

Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.

Sources & standards: NaTHNaC (TravelHealthPro) — Schistosomiasis GOV.UK (UKHSA) — Helminth infections: migrant health guide UCLH — Post-tropical screening (Hospital for Tropical Diseases) PMC — Blood eosinophilia and diagnostic value in travel helminth screening GOV.UK (UKHSA) — Travel-associated infections in England

Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.

Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.